Even with the Legends material removed, theStar Warstimeline is absurdly expansive, encompassing over 25,000 years of in-universe history. Slowly but surely, Disney is trying to fill out as much of that timeline as possible, with some recent projects coveringthe High Republic era, the New Republic period, and a ton of recent media covering the gap betweenRevenge of the SithandA New Hope. But the original trilogy’s Galactic Civil War hasn’t been forgotten about either, with last year’sStar Wars Outlawsbeing set right in the middle of it.
Star Wars Outlawsmay have received a mixed reception upon its initial launch due to its shaky stealth systems, AI issues, and some other core gameplay critiques, but that doesn’t mean it was devoid of any good qualities.Star Wars Outlaws' setting was one of its biggest strengths, with it taking place in a time period that’s rarely seen in mainstreamStar Warsmedia. And there’s one core aspect ofStar Wars Outlaws' setting that should inspire a newStar Warsgame set about 25 years earlier.
Star Wars Outlaws' Setting Should Inspire One Game Set During The Prequels
Star Wars Outlaws Explores a Lesser-Seen Period of Galactic Unrest
Star Wars Outlawstakes place in 3 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), putting itbetweenThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi. The Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star a few years ago, the Empire took revenge by decimating the Rebel forces on Hoth, and now the Empire is actively hunting down any whiff of insubordination and wiping it from the galaxy immediately. The Empire’s grip on the galaxy has never been stronger, and tensions have never been higher.
But amid the chaos, the galaxy’s criminal underworld is thriving. With the Empire’s attention turned elsewhere, and its forces spread thin,syndicates like the Hutts and the Pykesare able to conduct their criminal activities more brazenly than ever before. And this is whereStar Wars Outlawsdrops players, into the heart of this fast-growing den of thieves, smugglers, and killers. This period is rarely seen in mainstreamStar Warsmedia, and the unique focus on the criminal underworld givesStar Wars Outlawssome stand-out moments.
Star Wars Should Explore Another Lesser-Seen Period of Growing Tension
Once derided by the entire fan-base,theStar Warsprequelshave become much more tolerable in recent years, though that’s mostly due to the great expanded media around them. The animatedClone Warsshow covered essentially the entire conflict betweenAttack of the ClonesandRevenge of the Sith, but there have been few canon projects that have explored the period before.
There’s a 10-year stretch betweenThe Phantom MenaceandAttack of the Clones, and this lesser-seen period could be a great setting for a game likeStar WarsOutlaws. During this time, tensions around the Republic’s rule begin to grow in the galaxy. Two years beforeAttack of the Clones' events, Count Dooku establishesthe Confederacy of Independent Systemsand thousands of planets decide to leave the Republic, thus dividing the galaxy in two.
Though a fully-fledged war doesn’t break out untilthe events ofAttack of the Clones, there’s still a lot of violence and insurgency. This growing tension would be a great backdrop for aStar Warsvideo game. Players could take on the role of a Jedi sent to help a planet far away from the Inner Rim, where they see first-hand how hated the Republic and Jedi have become. Or, more directly inspired byOutlaws, they could take on the role of a bounty hunter or smuggler who’s profiting from the galaxy’s sudden uncertainty.
