Star Wars has always been seen as something for kids, yet it’s set in a universe with dark themes and shady dealings.
The series has struggled with showing its criminal side. Though people often blame Disney, this issue started with George Lucas. He created Han Solo, the classic charming rogue. However, he later changed Han’s first scene with Greedo to make him look less like a cold-blooded killer. Originally, Han shot Greedo without hesitation. But in the "Special Edition," Han dodges a shot and fires back in self-defense.
Fans think it’s better writing when a character changes over time. Han Solo evolves from a lone scoundrel to a hero who cares about his friends, and that growth is important to his story.
Lucas wanted Han to be more clearly heroic, and since 1997, Han has been portrayed as defending himself rather than being a dirtbag. This kid-friendly approach continued in the prequels and into Disney’s era of Star Wars.
One example is in Attack of the Clones, where Obi-Wan and Anakin visit a sketchy bar. The biggest clue it’s a bad place? A guy named Elan Sleazebaggano offers Obi-Wan some "death sticks." Subtle, right?
When Disney reintroduced Boba Fett, they didn’t fully dive into his criminal life either. In The Mandalorian, Boba’s storyline leads to The Book of Boba Fett, which was about him becoming a crime boss. But instead of showing gritty crime details, Boba Fett came off more like a nice grandpa who rarely did anything bad.
We feel that Star Wars often misses the chance to explore darker themes more deeply.
Now comes Star Wars Outlaws, promising to dive into the criminal underworld without any Jedi or Mandalorians around. Ubisoft is emphasizing that this game will focus on various crime syndicates like the Hutts and Pykes thriving under Imperial rule.
"What happens when you have a civil war consuming the galaxy? Well, criminal organizations and syndicates, they find a space to rise up," said Navid Khavari, narrative director at Ubisoft.
Kay Vess, the game’s main character, is planning a big heist and will have to navigate these crime groups by making shady choices. It seems she won’t be purely good or evil but somewhere in between.
I believe Kay will eventually show she has a heart of gold by helping those she cares about or stopping bigger evils. This balance between her crimes and heroism could make the story compelling if done right.
I’m really looking forward to Outlaws because I hope it finally gives us an authentic look at the Star Wars underworld.
