Facebook
Reddit
Email
When does the new Star Wars Outlaws game take place in the massive and continually growing Star Wars timeline?
The Star Wars timeline takes place across several millennia, so it’s not uncommon for one of the first thoughts about Star Wars Outlaws to be, “When does this game take place?” Does it take place after the Original Trilogy, placing it alongside the critically acclaimed The Mandalorian show? Or does it take place in the past long before the Prequels, during the time of the Old or High Republic? Some developers may want you to play the game to find out, but Massive Entertainment and Lucasfilm have been quite open about the setting and time frame of Outlaws since it was announced.
Star Wars Outlaws Timeline Placement
Star Wars Outlaws takes place during the Original Trilogy era, after the events of The Empire Strikes Back but before Return of the Jedi. According to Mathias Karlson, Game Director for Star Wars Outlaws, this means “the Empire is at the height of its power and reach.” The Empire will be an always-present and ever-looming threat for the game’s protagonist, Kay Vess.
“[…] we want to show a different side to the Empire and how it intersects with the underworld. And that means corruption.”
– Navid Khavari, Narrative Director, Star Wars Outlaws
This will undoubtedly lead Kay Vess into both direct and indirect conflict with the Empire at several points during the game. While it is unlikely that we will run into Darth Vader, it is not impossible as he is still very active and at the height of his power at this point.
Possible Character and Story Connections
Because of its placement in the Star Wars timeline, Outlaws is likely to have Kay Vess run into several well-known characters from the Star Wars universe. Characters like Jabba the Hutt are already confirmed to be in the game, and Han Solo is seen still frozen in carbonite. Taking this into account, characters like Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett are obvious choices to show up in a game about outlaws and the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars universe. It’s possible that several other major and minor characters will show up at some point or another, at least as cameos.
Outlaws is the first big entry in this part of the timeline. While several shorts and comics take place during this period, there are no films, TV shows, or video games that portray what goes down between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. This will lead to some very interesting and unique storytelling, and the context of the Star Wars universe as a whole is sure to benefit from seeing other points of view during this darker point in the timeline.
Star Wars Outlaws Timeline Placement is Important to the Story
The developers of Star Wars Outlaws say that the game belonging to this timeline is what makes the story possible.
“Outlaws takes place right between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so it’s the civil war between the Rebellion and the Empire. That has actually created this pocket of opportunity for syndicates and criminal organizations to rise up in that space.”
-Navid Khavari, Narrative Director, Star Wars Outlaws
“What’s great about that point on the timeline is this is a moment where the civil war between the Empire and the Rebellion is at its height. And this creates an environment across the galaxy where outlaws can thrive.”
-Steve Blank, Director, Franchise Content and Strategy at Lucasfilm
It is easy to see why they chose this particular time frame for Star Wars Outlaws. The criminal underworld is thriving under a powerful but at-war Empire. This is the perfect setting for a gritty outlaw Western, which Star Wars Outlaws looks to be emulating perfectly.
Looking for more?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
