Star Wars Outlaws Draws Inspiration from Samurai Media, Just Like the Films

Star Wars Outlaws’ creative director reveals how Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin's Creed Odyssey inspired the game's development. Read on to discover how these influences shaped Star Wars Outlaws' open-world adventure.

Star Wars Outlaws Shares A Glimpse Into The Making Of A Galactic AdventureInspiration from Ghost of Tsushima

In the recent years that Star Wars has been making a resurgence, with Disney's The Mandalorian and this year's The Acolyte, its gaming counterpart isn't left behind. With last year's Star Wars Jedi Survivor, this year's Star Wars Outlaws has quickly become an anticipated wait for many fans. In GamesRadar+'s interview with its creative director, Julian Gerighty, he revealed a surprising fact: his biggest inspiration for Star Wars Outlaws is a samurai action game, Ghost of Tsushima.

Gerighty shared that his creative vision for Star Wars Outlaws was heavily influenced by Ghost of Tsushima because of its dedication to immersing players in a meticulously crafted world. Unlike other games that rely on repetitive tasks, Ghost of Tsushima offers a pure and cohesive experience where the story, world, and characters align perfectly with the gameplay. This approach resonated with Gerighty, who wanted to replicate that level of immersion in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to fully engage with the fantasy of being an outlaw in a galaxy far, far away.

By drawing parallels between the samurai experience in Ghost of Tsushima and the scoundrel's journey in Star Wars Outlaws, Gerighty emphasized the importance of creating a seamless and captivating narrative. This vision aims to ensure that players feel like they are truly living in the Star Wars universe, rather than just playing a game set in it.

Influences from Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Gerighty openly discussed how Assassin's Creed Odyssey influenced his game, particularly in terms of creating a vast, explorative environment with RPG elements. He admired Assassin's Creed Odyssey for its freedom of approach and the vastness of its world, which encouraged exploration and curiosity. This admiration translated into Star Wars Outlaws, where Gerighty sought to create a similarly expansive and engaging world.

Gerighty had the advantage of consulting directly with the team behind Assassin's Creed Odyssey and this ability was invaluable for him. He frequently reached out to them for advice on various aspects of game development, such as managing the size of the game world and ensuring that traversal distances were reasonable. This collaboration allowed him to incorporate successful elements from Assassin's Creed Odyssey while tailoring them to fit the unique needs of Star Wars Outlaws.

Despite his admiration for Assassin's Creed, Gerighty was clear that he wanted Star Wars Outlaws to offer a more condensed and focused experience. Instead of a sprawling 150-hour journey, he aimed for a narrative-driven adventure that players could realistically complete. This decision was influenced by his desire to create a game that was accessible and compelling, ensuring that players remained engaged from start to finish.

Crafting the Player Fantasy of Being an Outlaw

For the development team behind Star Wars Outlaws, the appeal of the scoundrel archetype, epitomized by Han Solo, became the central focus of the game. Gerighty explained that the concept of being a rogue in a galaxy filled with wonder and opportunity was the guiding principle that united all aspects of the game's development.

This focus on the outlaw fantasy allowed the team to create an experience that was both expansive and immersive. Players can engage in various activities, such as playing Sabacc in a cantina, riding a speeder across a planet, piloting a ship through space, and exploring different worlds. The seamless transition between these activities was designed to enhance the feeling of living out a scoundrel's adventure in the Star Wars universe.