Based on what has been revealed so far, there is plenty to be excited about with Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's upcoming open-world Star Wars adventure Star Wars Outlaws. Despite facing some skepticism here and there, Star Wars Outlaws continues to stand out as a unique Star Wars game, primarily because of its open-world model, non-Jedi protagonist, and non-traditional setting. As the outlaw scoundrel Kay Vess, players will explore the Outer Rim in an attempt to pull off a major heist, all while likely participating in a variety of optional activities along the way. One of those optional activities has already been confirmed, and it's likely to appeal to modern gamers, in light of recent trends.
According to Star Wars Outlaws' ESRB rating summary, "During the course of the game, players can wager in-game currency on Sabacc, a blackjack-like card game with detailed rules." While Ubisoft and Massive have not openly revealed the inclusion of Sabacc in the game, the ESRB summary alone confirms it. Sabacc is an iconic card game in the Star Wars universe, and Star Wars Outlaws will be the first game to ever feature it as a playable mini-game. As mini-games continue to increase in popularity, especially after Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Queen's Blood took the stage, Star Wars Outlaws might want to reveal more about its version of Sabaac ahead of launch to build hype for the game.
Star Wars Outlaws' Sabacc Mini-Game Deserves More Attention Ahead of Launch
Star Wars Outlaws' Sabacc Could Be the Next Queen's Blood
Mini-games have been around for a long time in gaming, but they have only very recently seen a surge in popularity. This is primarily due to the successful implementation of what is universally accepted as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's best mini-game, Queen's Blood, although it could certainly be argued that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Gwent paved the way for mini-games like Queen's Blood.
Canonically, Sabacc has only been played on one of Star Wars Outlaws' confirmed planets, Tatooine, which means players will most likely be traveling there to enjoy the mini-game. That being said, Star Wars Outlaws could feature more planets than it has revealed so far, thereby potentially broadening Sabacc's territory in the process. Nevertheless, if Outlaws' version of Sabaac ends up being just as good as, if not better than, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Queen's Blood, it's likely to make waves just as its spiritual predecessor did.
Star Wars Outlaws Should Reveal More of Sabacc Before the Game's Release
It's currently impossible to know what Star Wars Outlaws' Sabacc will look like, as the game has historically been known to have more than eighty variations. Still, its standard variation is the one Star Wars Outlaws will most likely feature, which tasks players with ending the game with a hand that totals as close as possible to 23 or −23 without going over.
For the most part, traditional Sabacc plays similarly to Blackjack, except for one significant mechanic called a "Sabacc Shift," which essentially changes the values and suits of each card not locked in on the table's "interference field."
Revealing more about Star Wars Outlaws' version of Sabacc ahead of the game's release would kill two birds with one stone. Firstly, it would confirm the variation(s) of Sabacc Outlaws is choosing to feature, which some hardcore Star Wars fans may wish to know. Secondly, it would show off the mini-game and most likely build hype for Outlaws' optional activities, especially for those who grew fond of Queen's Blood in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. At the very least, there is little reason why Ubisoft and Massive wouldn't go ahead and formally announce it in some way, especially given the popularity of mini-games as of late.
Star Wars Outlaws
- Released
- August 30, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game and explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, & outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.
DISCOVER A GALAXY OF OPPORTUNITY
Explore distinct planets with bustling cities and cantinas before racing across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each planet brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
EXPERIENCE AN ORIGINAL SCOUNDREL STORY
Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. With Nix by your side, turn any situation to your advantage: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
EMBARK ON HIGH-STAKES MISSIONS
Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
JUMP INTO THE PILOT SEAT
Pilot your ship, The Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with The Empire and other foes, finding the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure
