Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws Struggles to Find Its Footing

Ubisoft's highly anticipated Star Wars Outlaws game has faced a disappointing launch, with reports indicating that its sales have fallen short of the company's expectations. The game's performance has been overshadowed by the underperformance of another Ubisoft title, XDefiant, and the delay of the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows into 2025.

Outlaws Underperforms in a Crowded Galaxy

A Softer Than Expected Launch

Ubisoft had high hopes for Star Wars Outlaws, but the game's performance has fallen short of the company's expectations. According to a report from Insider Gaming, the game's sales may only reach around one million copies in its first month, a figure that pales in comparison to the launch numbers of other major Ubisoft franchises. For reference, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the biggest launch in that series, sold an estimated 1.4 million copies in its first week, while Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the most recent mainline entry, surpassed that record.

Facing Stiff Competition in the Star Wars Universe

The Star Wars IP is a highly coveted and competitive space, and Outlaws has struggled to stand out in the crowded galaxy. While the game has found some dedicated fans, particularly among die-hard Star Wars enthusiasts, it has failed to capture the broader audience in the same way as other recent Star Wars releases. For example, Stellar Blade, a new IP, managed to sell 1 million copies in just two months, a feat that highlights the challenges Outlaws has faced.

Addressing Player Feedback and Roadmap Improvements

In the wake of its launch, Ubisoft has been working to address some of the game's most criticized elements, including the much-maligned insta-fail stealth segments. The company has outlined a roadmap of future content updates that will bring quality-of-life improvements, as well as the introduction of a new story mission pack and further combat and stealth enhancements. However, it remains to be seen whether these updates will be enough to drive significant additional sales and turn the game's fortunes around.

Lessons Learned for Ubisoft

The underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws is a significant setback for Ubisoft, and the company will need to carefully examine what went wrong in order to learn from this experience. The game's struggles, combined with the underperformance of XDefiant and the delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows, highlight the challenges Ubisoft faces in delivering successful new titles in a highly competitive market. As the company looks to the future, it will need to carefully assess its strategy and ensure that it is positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the Star Wars franchise and other high-profile properties.