Summary
- Star Wars Outlaws lacks a New Game Plus mode, despite needing one for players to revisit choices.
- The game's choice-based gameplay justifies the need for a New Game Plus mode.
- Adding a New Game Plus mode could also provide an opportunity to introduce more content to the game.
Star Wars Outlaws has only just been released, but its first post-launch update already feels clear. As players witness the credits rolling at the end of the story, they may be disappointed to learn that there is no option to play through the game again in a New Game Plus mode. However, it arguably needs one — and fast.
New Game Plus has become a very popular game mode in the role-playing and action-adventure genres, as it allows players to keep everything they acquired in a previous playthrough — like experience, levels, gear, and skills — and carry it over to subsequent playthroughs. Unfortunately, Star Wars Outlaws lacks a New Game Plus option, despite how much sense it would make for it to have one. Nevertheless, it would do well for it to add one as soon as possible.
Star Wars Outlaws’ Best Mini-Game May Not Be What You Think
Star Wars Outlaws has plenty of mini-games for players to try when they aren't trying to pull off a heist, but one hidden one might take the cake.
Star Wars Outlaws Needs a New Game Plus Mode
Star Wars Outlaws' Emphasis on Choice Justifies Its Need for a New Game Plus
A major part of Star Wars Outlaws' gameplay loop revolves around players making important choices that affect Kay's reputation with various crime syndicates. At certain moments during the game, players will be required to choose whether to support one faction or another, with the consequence of increased reputation with the supported faction and decreased reputation with the other. While these choices don't necessarily affect the outcome of the overarching narrative too much, they do greatly impact many of the game's major story beats and the dialogue that occurs during them. As such, there are plenty of opportunities for one playthrough to be different from the next.
In light of Star Wars Outlaws' emphasis on choice, it would make sense for players to have the option to play through the game again in a New Game Plus mode. This would allow them to keep the gear and skills they acquired during their previous playthrough and focus more on building reputation with the factions they haven't yet supported. As an added bonus, since siding with each of Star Wars Outlaws' factions opens up new opportunities for players to obtain unique gear, players could then acquire every piece of gear available, rather than losing those rewards upon starting a new playthrough. All in all, Star Wars Outlaws' reputation system makes a strong case for it to receive a New Game Plus mode.
New Game Plus Could Provide Star Wars Outlaws With Enough Excuse to Add More Content
Another reason New Game Plus would be a great fit for Star Wars Outlaws is that it would give the game a good excuse to add more content. For example, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's New Game Plus adds new perks for players to unlock. Stellar Blade is another great example of this, as players are then granted access to a handful of new skills that aren't obtainable in a normal playthrough, along with some new cosmetics to boot.
Star Wars Outlaws already has the foundation for a New Game Plus mode like this, especially with the long list of skills that Kay and Nix have. Perhaps a New Game Plus mode for Star Wars Outlaws could add new skills to that library, or even introduce new Expert NPCs who can teach those skills. Furthermore, Star Wars Outlaws could add some new gear in a New Game Plus mode, or improved versions of the gear that already exists, at least.
It's unclear whether Star Wars Outlaws plans to add a New Game Plus mode in the future, but if it changes its mind and chooses to, it would be best done sooner rather than later. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 recently launched without a New Game Plus mode, only to add one to the game much later. Unfortunately, it might have been too late for the party. Star Wars Outlaws can't fall into the same trap, especially considering what it could do with a New Game Plus mode.
Star Wars Outlaws
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Engine
- Snowdrop
- Franchise
- Star Wars
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
