Star Wars Outlaws Faces Further Sales Decline

Summary

• Star Wars Outlaws is being outsold by 2023's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
• Ubisoft’s stocks dropped sharply following the launch of Star Wars Outlaws in August 2024.
• Players dislike the game's combat and stealth mechanics.

In more disappointing news for Ubisoft, their latest open-world venture, Star Wars Outlaws, is reportedly being outsold by 2023’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite early positive reviews upon its August 2024 launch, the game has faced significant backlash from players, particularly regarding its combat and stealth mechanics. Ubisoft has attempted to address these issues in subsequent updates, but these efforts have failed to win over initial detractors.

The financial impact has been stark, with Star Wars Outlaws failing to meet sales expectations, as Ubisoft acknowledged in September. Following the game's release on August 27, 2024, Ubisoft's stock plummeted, heightening concerns about the company's future and sparking discussions about privatization. Despite these setbacks, both Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment remain hopeful, buoyed by plans for post-launch DLC to rejuvenate interest in the game.

A recent report from VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring revealed the extent of the game's underperformance. Not only is Star Wars Outlaws lagging behind overall sales, but it is also being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Respawn Entertainment's action-packed sequel has surpassed Star Wars Outlaws in sales, though specific figures have not been disclosed. In Europe, Star Wars Outlaws ranked as the 47th best-selling video game of 2024.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has several advantages that contribute to its success. As a sequel to the well-received Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it benefited from an established fanbase and glowing reviews upon its April 2023 release. The game saw a resurgence in interest with the release of an update for PS4 and Xbox One last year, further boosting its sales.

On the other hand, Star Wars Outlaws has struggled to capture a similar audience, despite ongoing updates and the introduction of story-driven DLC. The first expansion, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, released in November, featured Kay Vess teaming up with Lando Calrissian. A second storyline, Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune, slated for Spring 2025, will bring back the beloved character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These efforts are part of Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's strategy to turn the game's fortunes around.