There have been countless Star Wars games over the decades, but one of the most highly anticipated is, without question, “Star Wars Outlaws”. Unfortunately, however, that game came and went in 2024 without leaving any sort of significant mark on the long-running franchise, with many fans and critics left extremely disappointed with the final product.
Now, some renewed attention around the fan-made game Star Wars Genesis has reopened a familiar conversation among fans: what would it actually take for a licensed open-world Star Wars game to work? The fan-made Starfield mod isn’t official, but its popularity highlights an appetite among fans that Ubisoft’s “Outlaws” barely satisfied.
Could an “Outlaws” sequel — or something closer to a reboot — actually work?
Built as a total conversion for the official game Starfield, the fan-made project Genesis overlays Bethesda’s basegame universe with a fully realized Star Wars sandbox that simply has to be seen to be believed. Here's one of many videos from the creator highlighting the sheer scale and ambition of the game (this one being the trailer from last year):
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Genesis allows players to create characters, choose allegiances, and navigate a galaxy shaped by the Empire, the Rebellion, and criminal syndicates, with quests, locations, and systems layered on top. In short, it's exactly what “Outlaws” should have been.
According to its creator (via the game's website), “Many of its features, such as new enemy factions, bosses, unique locations, and original quest content, are exclusive to Genesis and cannot be found anywhere else.”
The modded game's recent surge in visibility is owed to an upcoming major update — one that will introduce lightsabers, new storylines, and a lot more. As a result, Genesis has become a talking point again. It continues to capture a sense of freedom and ownership that many players expected from a licensed open-world Star Wars game like “Outlaws”.
That game, released in 2024, arrived with understandably very high expectations. Marketed as the first official open-world Star Wars game, it promised seamless planet-to-space travel and a scoundrel fantasy set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Ubisoft delivered on part of that promise, but many players felt the experience lacked depth. Backlash centered on the gameplay mechanics and graphics, thin NPC interactions, and the decision to lock players into Kay Vess rather than allowing character creation.
In other words, the Force was not strong with “Star Wars Outlaws”. It also underperformed commercially, with Ubisoft later acknowledging that the game didn't meet sales expectations, which puts the chances of a future title in the “Outlaws” series in doubt.
A reboot, however, is a different idea entirely. If “Outlaws” were to return, the lesson from Genesis is obvious: fans want to inhabit the faraway galaxy, not just visit it. Star Wars has always thrived on immersion, and an open-world game should absolutely reflect that.
“Outlaws” may offer a handful of planets, but that's hardly the faraway galaxy in its entirety. A future entry would need to prioritize size and scale, and NPCs that behave like residents rather than set dressing.
Whether Ubisoft is given another shot remains to be seen, but the demand hasn’t gone anywhere. If Lucasfilm Games wants a definitive open-world Star Wars experience, it may need to treat a potential “Outlaws” follow-up less like a sequel and more like a full reboot.
Have you played Star Wars Genesis? What would you like from a licensed open-world game set in the faraway galaxy? Share your thoughts in the comments!
