Swedish Game Studio Channels Fandom in ‘Star Wars Outlaws’
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Loading... - Lester Kendrick
- 07 Aug 2024
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From Yoda figurines to Lego stormtrooper helmets, Star Wars memorabilia fills the Massive Entertainment video game studio, which is on the brink of unveiling a much-anticipated title drawn from George Lucas's iconic franchise. The Malmö, Sweden-based studio has spent years crafting Star Wars Outlaws, transforming their deep-seated fandom into a meticulous craftsmanship process, collaborating closely with Lucasfilm to bring a fresh perspective to the beloved epic.
"We had to take a step back," said game developer Mathias Karlson, explaining the transition from passionate fans to creators. This journey required them to blend their enthusiasm for Star Wars with the rigorous demands of game development. "It's been a fantastic journey almost like reconnecting with childhood,” Karlson added.
Excitement is mounting as the August 30 release date for Star Wars Outlaws approaches. Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, this open-world game allows players to immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe in unprecedented ways. "Many of us grew up with Star Wars," said the studio's operations director Alf Condelius, reminiscing about his own first encounter with the franchise at the age of 11.
Owned by French gaming giant Ubisoft, Massive Entertainment began working on the project in 2020 in partnership with Lucasfilm. "We wanted to create a video game in which the player would be the director of their own experience," said the studio's creative director Julian Gerighty. The game promises players extensive freedom, offering numerous choices regarding vehicles, destinations, and criminal alliances to fully bring the bandit or outlaw adventure to life.
While there is an abundance of Star Wars games, Outlaws distinguishes itself by giving players greater control and creative freedom within a specific fictional era. "We were given a lot of creative freedom to come up with new things," Gerighty noted. This creative latitude has enabled the team to infuse new elements and perspectives into the game.
Players will step into the shoes of Kay Vess, a character on the brink of executing the heist of the century. Adorned in a leather jacket, heavily tattooed, armed with a pistol, and always accompanied by her trusty galactic animal companion Nix, Kay Vess explores diverse planets and navigates the underworld of crime bosses in her quest for freedom. Originating from the fictional desert planet Cantonica, known for its casino city introduced in the 2017 film The Last Jedi, Kay's journey promises to be an exhilarating addition to the Star Wars universe.
As Star Wars Outlaws gears up for its release, fans and gamers alike are eager to see how Massive Entertainment has channeled their deep-rooted fandom into crafting a new and immersive Star Wars experience.
