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 a disappointing turn of events for Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's ambitious open-world title is being outsold by the previous year's release, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite receiving generally favorable initial reviews upon its launch in August 2024, the game has faced significant criticism regarding its combat and stealth mechanics. Ubisoft has attempted to address these issues with subsequent updates, but these efforts have not been enough to win back early detractors.
The underwhelming reception has translated into poor sales performance, with Ubisoft acknowledging that Star Wars Outlaws did not meet its sales targets as early as September. The game's release on August 27, 2024, was followed by a sharp decline in Ubisoft's stock prices, intensifying concerns about the company's financial health and sparking discussions about potential privatization. Despite these challenges, Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment remain hopeful that the game's fortunes can be turned around through planned post-launch DLC.
Adding to the woes, a recent report by VGC and industry veteran Christopher Dring revealed that Star Wars Outlaws is not only underperforming but is also being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The 2023 sequel from Respawn Entertainment has managed to outsell Ubisoft's title, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. In Europe, Star Wars Outlaws ranks as the 47th best-selling game of 2024.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is Outselling Star Wars Outlaws
Several factors may explain why Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is outperforming Star Wars Outlaws. As a sequel to the well-received Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor benefited from an established fan base and received widespread acclaim upon its release in April 2023. Additionally, last year's update for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which extended the game to PS4 and Xbox One, reignited interest in the adventures of protagonist Cal Kestis.
On the other hand, Star Wars Outlaws has struggled to capture a similar audience, despite ongoing efforts by Massive Entertainment to improve the game with updates and story expansions. The first DLC, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, was released in November and featured a collaboration between protagonist Kay Vess and Lando Calrissian. A second expansion, Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune, is scheduled for release in Spring 2025 and will bring back the popular character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
