Star Wars Outlaws maker defends glitches in 'complex' game

Star Wars Outlaws is an exciting new video game that has been generating a lot of buzz, but it has also faced some technical issues. This game is the first open-world Star Wars game, allowing players to explore a vast universe at their own pace. However, some players who had early access to the game reported encountering glitches, which are small problems that can disrupt gameplay. For instance, some players found themselves stuck in certain areas of the game or experienced difficulties with saving their progress. The game’s developer, Ubisoft, is aware of these issues and is working on potential fixes. Julian Gerighty, the creative director at Massive Entertainment, the studio behind the game, expressed his frustration over these early problems. He stated, 'When you have millions of players step into your world, you'd rather it not happen. ' He explained that the complexity of creating such a large game can lead to unexpected issues. 'The bigger the game is, the more systems you have, the more complex that it’s going to be,' he added. Despite these challenges, Julian believes that glitches are part of the gaming experience. 'It's also the joy of video games, of being able to step into these worlds and sometimes [these] things happen,' he remarked. The game follows the journey of Kay Vess, a character described as a 'scoundrel' who is navigating through the galaxy's crime syndicates in search of freedom and a new life. Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, players will immerse themselves in a rich narrative filled with adventure. Reviews for Star Wars Outlaws have been mixed so far. Some critics have praised it as a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, while others have pointed out issues with stealth mechanics, repetitive combat, and the presence of bugs at launch. For example, IGN described the game as 'a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch. ' Eurogamer noted that the game 'isn’t a squeaky clean game on a technical level, with a few rough points amid a general trend of brilliance. ' PC Gamer commented on the game's mix of good and bad elements, stating, 'There is so much going on between its main quests, side quests… yet fundamental fun video game stuff like getting from place to place falls flat. ' Gamespot also shared its thoughts, mentioning that the space combat is unexciting and that the relationship tracker with crime syndicates does not add much to the overall experience. However, they acknowledged that the game excels in areas like gunslinging and sneaking, which are enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack. Julian believes that the game has made significant strides compared to previous titles. He mentioned, 'The density of cities… the city's streets, to a densely populated market town to your spaceship. And then blast off into orbit completely seamlessly with no loading. ' However, he also noted that creating a game of this scale presents unique design challenges. 'It’s a real technical challenge with the speeds,' he explained. He emphasized that this level of complexity could only be achieved with the current generation of consoles, as it would have been 'completely impossible' in the past due to technological limitations. Julian feels that the game truly shines when players embrace their roles as scoundrels and outlaws, following their own paths through the galaxy. 'That's where the world comes together and you really feel like you're a part of Star Wars,' he said. The Star Wars fanbase is known for its passion, and Julian values their feedback immensely. He stated, 'If you look at the history of Massive Entertainment, the community is such a vocal part of making things better and improving the game. ' He also highlighted the importance of understanding the broader Star Wars universe, including other media like movies and TV shows, to ensure that the game fits well within that context. Reflecting on the launch of Outlaws, Julian expressed a mix of pride and anxiety. 'It's equal parts thrilling and terrifying, always a joy to launch something,' he said. He wants players to have the best experience possible, but he also acknowledges the nerves that come with releasing a game. After the launch, the team plans to evaluate how players are engaging with the game, identifying both joyful moments and points of frustration. They are also planning to release downloadable content (DLC) in the future, which will provide additional content for players after the game is released. 'With every single DLC, it'll be a moment for us to update, improve and make sure that the experience is as good as it can be,' he said. Star Wars Outlaws is set to be officially released on August 30.