How does Star Wars Outlaws fit into the franchise’s timeline and lore?

Key points

  • Star Wars Outlaws
    takes place between
    The Empire Strikes Back
    AND
    Return of the Jedi
    which shows the unstable state of the galaxy.
  • During this time, the criminal underworld thrives, with Jabba the Hutt and the Crimson Dawn seeking to increase their power.
  • The game shares similarities with
    Shadows of the Empire
    offering an overview of an unexplored section of
    Star Wars
    history.



Star Wars Outlaws has players take on the role of Kay Vess as she makes her way through the criminal underworld in a formative moment in her Star Wars timeline. While Kay's travels may not affect the overall politics of the galaxy, the conflict and turmoil that occurs during this time period in Star Wars sets the stage for Kay and her journey.

Star Wars Outlaws takes place between the events of The Empire Strikes Back AND Return of the Jedi. This time period is extremely volatile for the galaxy, as war rages and key figures seek to seize any power that might be up for grabs. The era is relatively unexplored in the Star Wars canon and is the perfect place to set a game with so many ties to the criminal underworld.



The empire is starting to collapse

The rebellion weakened the Empire's power

  • The Empire Has Bigger Problems Than Kay Vess
  • The rebellion is willing to do anything to gain an advantage

After the events of The Empire Strikes BackThe Rebel Alliance is still at open war with the Empire and is gaining power. As such, the Empire has made the Rebels their number one priority in the galaxy, as they actually pose a threat to their dominance. This means that the Empire is not necessarily focused on all the criminal activity in the galaxy, but is instead occupied with the Rebellion. There are even some Imperial officers who see this as an opportunity to earn some extra credit in the process. Since the Rebellion is the biggest threat to the Empire's power, Kay will have some run-ins with some Corrupt Imperials who are willing to accept a few bribes and look the other way when it comes to some of Kay's illegal activities.


The Empire won't just be turning to the underworld for help, as the Rebel Alliance itself is willing to use any tool at its disposal to gain an edge against the enemy. It wouldn't be the first time the Rebels have turned to smugglers and scoundrels for help in their fight against the Imperials. While Kay herself may not be a Rebel, there will be times when Kay's interests coincide with those of the rebels, and they will have to work together against the Empire to achieve a common goal.

It is important to remember the events that have already happened in Star Wars universe, but also what hasn't happened yet. The Rebellion has exploded a Death Star, but the Empire still controls most of the galaxy. However, as the Rebels have won some key victories on their way to overthrowing the Empire, many people can see the cracks in Imperial rule and that the Empire isn't as threatening as it may seem.


Star Wars Outlaws Timeline Aligns With a Golden Age of Crime

With the Empire busy, unions are gaining power

  • Jabba the Hutt is trying to increase his power in the galaxy
  • Crimson Dawn are trying to rebuild a criminal network

At this point in the Star Wars timeline, the Rebels have almost all of the Empire's attention, so there are many interested parties who see an opportunity for a major power grab. The galaxy's largest crime syndicates see the conflict as a way to increase their own influence without having to worry about the Empire. This has led to a significant increase in criminal activity. in the galaxy, with all the syndicates working against each other to become one of the most powerful factions in the galaxy.


The Hutts are already extremely powerful, with their leader Jabba the Hutt having enormous influence. In The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader acknowledges Jabba's influence over Boba Fett at one point. Vader even lets Boba Fett bring the captured Han Solo back to Jabba after freezing him in carbonite. This shows that the Empire is clearly more interested in defeating the Rebels than the crime syndicates, even giving Jabba one of the Rebel Alliance's greatest heroes to display as a trophy in his palace.

Jabba is not bothered by the Imperials, and so his influence only grows in the time leading up to his eventual demise in Return of the JediWhen players first meet Jabba in his palace, they will be able to see him firsthand. how he treats those who oppose him. While some unions seek to increase the power they already possess, one union seeks to regain the reputation it once had.


The Crimson Dawn had operated largely in the shadows to avoid attracting the attention of the Empire. Fans will recognize the Crimson Dawn from the film Solo: A Star Wars Storyled by Dryden Vos, with its secret leader actually being Darth Maul. After AloneThe Crimson Dawn became weaker and were no longer as powerful as they once were. During this time, Crimson Dawn see chance to rebuild their legacyand Kay will team up with Dawn in an attempt to not only build their own organization, but also take down other organizations as well.

This is an unexplored moment in the new canon

Older Star Wars titles have explored this period

  • There are older ones Star Wars stories that are no longer canon and that explore the same time period
  • Star Wars Outlaws It may have been influenced by an older game with a similar storyline


Before Disney bought Star Warsthere was a multimedia project that explained many of the events between Empire AND Return of the Jedi called Shadows of the EmpireConsisting of books, albums, comics and even a video game, Shadows of the Empire has since been excluded from the Star Wars canon to make room for new stories. However, Shadows of the Empire presents some striking similarities with Star Wars Outlawsand it's likely that the new game will take inspiration from the previous title.


Shadows of the Empire follows smuggler Dash Rendar, as an unlikely ally of the Rebel Alliance, and his dealings with some criminals as he tries to help the Rebels. Dash has often been cited as a stand-in for Han Solo, as Han himself was trapped in carbonite during this time. While Kay has a bit more personality than a carbon copy of Han Solo, it is very likely that her story was influenced by Dash's, even have a similarly antagonistic relationship with the leader of a crime syndicate who has shady ties to the Empire.

While the canon has erased some of the stories that characterized this period, Star Wars Outlaws is taking up the baton to give fans some insight into this missing period of Star Wars history. While Kay herself may not have direct involvement in any of the major dealings between the Rebels and the Empire, she finds herself drawn into the conflict in one way or another. Whether it's witnessing the Empire's obsession with the Rebel Alliance, the Rebels' unwavering desire to fight back, or the unions competing for power, Star Wars Outlaws offers players a glimpse into an important, yet unexplored section of the Star Wars chronology.


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