Star Wars Outlaws is in a bit of a pickle. Ubisoftâs model of making games that are too big to fail means the severe flaws in its seemingly guaranteed hit combining the open-world scope and mechanics the developer has made its bread and butter in recent years with Star Wars have left the publisher in trouble. Following recent pledges to start making some significant improvements to the game, the first of the promised patches has arrived, and addresses two of the gameâs weakest aspects: the crappy speeder, and the dreadful stealth
Ubisoft is not having a great time of it, of late. The publicly owned publisher makes projects on such a massive scale that anything short of blockbuster success means failure, and given the (relatively) disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws, and the subsequent delay of Assassinâs Creed Shadows to March of next year, the companyâs share price has hit a ten-year low
And when youâre owned by shareholders and beholden to impossible targets of permanent growth, thatâs the sort of thing that gets you headlines like, âUbisoft faces questions over its future.â Which, given the crappy masterpiece that is Outlaws has sold a million copies, shows you just what a fucked up situation weâre all in.
Called âTitle Update 2,â for some reason, the new patch promises to finally address the utterly broken AI detection when stealthing in the game. (This game has been out over a month, and itâs bewildering that something so important has taken so long, not least because Ubisoft gets this feature so right in its AssCreed series.) The patch notes say,
Tweaked the overall stealth experience by adjusting AI detection, the number of NPCs and their positioning, patrol pathing, camera detection and highlighting environmental opportunities to reduce player friction
If youâve not played the game, you could easily interpret this as a difficulty nerf. But those who are more familiar with Outlaws will most likely release a breath theyâve held in since the end of August. Being spotted through walls, hills, and so on and then that impossible sighting causing an entire camp to telepathically spring into simultaneous laser-honed attacks is not so much a difficulty issue, as a fun issue.
The other big change is that the speeder will fling you off less often, like perhaps not when you drive within eyesight of a pebble. The unwieldy bikes have been too fast to control in busy areas, while too slow to be a satisfying means of long-distance travel, and buck you off like a furious bull every time you go anywhere. So this getting addressed is quite the relief.
Also among the ânotable changesâ listed in the notes are two game-breaking bugs that absolutely fucked me over. One is getting stuck in the hyperjump to KijimiâKay would start talking, cut herself off, and then it would enter a silent infinite hyperjump sequence. The second is fixing an issue where you couldnât take off from the planet after finishing a mission called The Wreck. This was especially infuriating, as the story mission arc also prevented any fast-travel off-planet, and I had to reload a save from two sodding hours earlier. So, at least new players wonât experience that.
Which is all to rather make the point that so much of whatâs being addressed 35 days since release has already long put me off persisting with a game Iâd almost finished. In fact, I found Assassinâs Creed Valhalla on Game Pass, and having missed it when it was released, starting playing that insteadâand it turns out to be the Star Wars Outlaws I was looking for, only with Saxons instead of Stormtroopers, and the sea instead of the stars.
This patch is tempting me to return, not least because it finally adds a button for throwing grenades, rather than requiring you to juggle through UI prompts in the heat of battle. But then, Iâm loving Valhalla so much, Iâm not sure Iâve got the willpower for Outlaws any more. Itâs wonderful that Ubisoft is working hard to make it into the game it deserves to be, but I fear a lot of damage has already been done. Perhaps Iâll come back to it when they release a disappointing Far Cry 8 in 2028.
Itâs a sizeable patch, 3.8GB on PS5, 4.7GB on Xbox, and 5.6GB on PC, so youâll want to get it downloading well ahead of intending to play. Here are the full, extensive patch notes:
PATCH DETAILS (version 7063935.TU2):
PlayStationÂŽ5: 3.80 GB (version 01.002.000)
Xbox Series X|S: 4.71 GB (version 1.0.2.0)
PC: 5.60 GB (version 1.0.2.0)
NOTABLE CHANGES:
Tweaked the overall stealth experience by adjusting AI detection, the number of NPCs and their positioning, patrol pathing, camera detection and highlighting environmental opportunities to reduce player friction
Fixed an issue where players would get stuck in the hyperjump sequence towards Kijimi
Fixed an issue where the âTakeoffâ button prompt wouldnât be shown after âThe Wreckâ mission
Improved the position of the speeder camera when the FOV was increased
Improved the speederâs response and reaction when called
Improved speeder collision with the environment to reduce being knocked off the speeder
Kerroâs Speakeasy â fixed an issue where the energy barrier was not disabled after successfully slicing the panel on Mirogana
Fixed an issue where players could not interact with the triangulation stone in Jet Kordoâs quest line on Toshara, and where the holotracker would not spawn in the Trailblazer
FULL PATCH NOTES:
Performance & Stability
Improved stability and performance across all platforms
Fixed FPS drops with Intel ARC GPUs
Added VRAM impact to RTXDI usage
General Gameplay
Improved animation of Kayâs movements
Scaled AI reaction to environmental actions from investigation to combat (e.g. when Nix detonates an NPCâs grenade more than once)
Reduced adrenaline gain when using melee
Added a quick throw button for using grenades
Improved conflicts when crouching near ledges when camera is facing the opposite direction
Reduced detection chances when using cover
Improved the speeder controls when using a mouse
Added a tutorial reminder for the blasterâs Stun module
Improved elements of the Death Trooper event
Improved sniper rifle sensitivity
Improved speeder collision with the environment to reduce being knocked off the speeder
Added the ability to press jump twice when near a grapple point to activate it
Improved animations after takedowns
Improved melee animation after punching an enemy wearing a helmet
Fixed an issue where Kay wouldnât receive any damage from enemy blasters
Fixed an issue where Nix accessories and treats were not showing in the menu when in space
Fixed an issue where controller presets werenât saved when playing on different consoles of the same platform
Fixed an issue where Kay would get stuck in out-of-bound areas
Fixed an issue where the grappling hook wouldnât snap to the correct position
Fixed an issue where Kay would incorrectly lose reputation when trespassing in Syndicate districts
Fixed an issue where some NPCs could not be distracted by Nix
Fixed an issue where Kayâs reputation wouldnât be impacted properly when detected completing actions such as stealing or being caught in Syndicate districts
Fixed an issue where player input wouldnât be registered during slicing if pressed quickly
Fixed an issue where the speeder racing NPC wouldnât move when starting the race
Fixed an issue where the speeder racing NPC would despawn on Toshara
Fixed an issue where Nix Sense wouldnât highlight NPCs that can be pickpocketed
Fixed an issue where Kay would teleport to the nearest shoreline when fast travelling if the speeder was on deep water
Fixed an issue where open world events would deactivate after getting close to the location
Fixed an issue where some syndicate events would not grant rewards when completed
Fixed an issue with the Death Trooper event not triggering when reaching Wanted Level 6
Fixed an issue where âDefeat the wanted level 6âł objective does not complete after finishing the event in space
UI, HUD and Settings
Added Syndicate names to individual contracts
Improved the flow on individual expert screens to view abilities as they become ready to unlock
Updated the description of gear sets to match their effects
Changed the default setting for the speeder to keyboard (WASD) rather than mouse on PC
Improved in-game menus and scrolling
Improved descriptive text when interacting with vendors that require certain Syndicate reputation
Fixed an issue where the cinematic volume setting was not registering properly
Fixed an issue where FOV was not working correctly when in 21:9 mode on consoles
Fixed an issue where the speeder icon was not present on the map and compass when fast travelling from one planet to another
Graphics
Improved the performance of VRAM, RTXDI, Frame Generation, and Ray Reconstruction
Fixed various graphical corruptions during takeoff and landing sequences and when in space
Fixed an issue with specific gearsets flickering when Frame Generation is on
Improved NPC visuals
Fixed an issue where some ground texture rendered in low quality after rebooting, loading, or fast travelling
Fixed an issue where some object lighting was not appearing correctly
Improved environmental terrain and foliage
Improved lighting during nighttime planetary takeoffs
Audio
Added additional background dialogue to improve immersion
Adjusted audio levels of environmental objects and player/NPC reactions
Fixed an issue where cantina music stopped after speaking to a contract giver
Fixed an issue where a sound effect would get stuck after using Nix pulse
Fixed multiple issues with objects not making sound upon physical impact with Kay or environment
Fixed multiple missing UI sounds in menus
Improved multiple music and ambience transitions in Quests and Open World
Cinematics
Improved narration, dialogue scenes, voice overs and lip syncing
Camera
Improved camera positioning when Kay is in low cover, shooting, and climbing
Improved the position of the speeder camera when the FOV was increased
Worlds, Fauna and Flora
Improved Kayâs hair animations during different rain types
Fixed vendor idle animations that were missing for some locations
Improved Kayâs awareness around waterfalls and rain
Sabacc:
Fixed an issue where Mehdo played the âCook The Booksâ shift token, and the effect would exist for the remainder of the game, when it should only be for the next reveal
Fixed an issue where a deck with selected shift tokens was not saved when quitting the game
Fixed an issue during the Sabacc tutorial where the game could be blocked if opening the rules menu
Fixed an issue where gameplay would get stuck if leaving the game during the Double Discard confirmation screen
Fixed an issue where NPCs would not react accordingly during the reveal phase
Fixed an issue where the opponentâs cards wouldnât show in the header when the Nix cheat was disabled
Photo Mode:
Fixed an issue where players were unable to rotate the camera while Adrenaline Rush was active
Fixed an issue where settings would reset when switching presets
Fixed an issue where photo mode couldnât be selected while Kay was using binoculars
Accessibility:
Added large font option for subtitles
Added a bold font option for subtitles
Moved overheard subtitles directional arrow to the right side of the container
Added auto accelerate/brake to the auto walk button
A prompt was added to the first-time user experience to enable large fonts
Added the option to auto mantle/vault over small objects
Menu narration order was updated to provide information in a more logical order
Added additional increments for the speeder mouse sensitivity
Added Adrenaline Rush timer setting to allow double or triple time for picking targets
Updated the tutorial text regarding accessibility options for Sabacc
Fixed an issue with missing closed captions for some weapon type explosions
Fixed an issue with audio description being cut off in a cinematic
Miscellaneous
Fixed an issue where Kay closed the wrong eye when aiming down sights
Fixed localization text in dialogue sequences
Fixed some incorrect text during dialogue options
Improved Kayâs gun holster animation
Added a warning when spending a large amount of credits to avoid doing so by mistake
Fixed an issue where purchased items reappeared in the vendorâs menu after saving/loading
Fixed an issue where players could throw unlimited grenades
Fixed an issue where Imperial speeders were missing parts
Fixed an issue where a data pad could not be interacted with during âSeloâs Peopleâ
MAIN & SIDE QUESTS (beware of spoilers)
Canto Bight
âBeginningsâ â adjusted number of credits needed to steal with Nix and added an extra keycard opportunity in the Sixth Kin Club
âThe Heistâ â fixed an issue where players could get stuck in an infinite loading loop after dying
Toshara
âUnderworldâ â adjusted enemy amount, AI detection, patrols, and scalable environment to better the stealth experience
âNew Tricksâ â Fixed an issue where Dankaâs call could be triggered while in the blaster upgrade menu, resulting in the Ion blast not working on the required door
âFalse Flagâ â Fixed an issue where progress could be lost when quitting an active quest
âThe WreckâFixed an issue where the quest marker was not pointing to the correct objectiveFixed an issue where a player could get stuck if saving/loading during the escape sequenceFixed an issue where the takeoff button prompt would not trigger
Tatooine
âThe Hotfixerâ â Fixed an issue where Kay would dismount the speeder at the start of the chase sequence
Akiva
âViperâ â Fixed an issue where the quest marker was not pointing to the correct objective
âRevelatorâFixed an issue where players would get a âReturn to Areaâ message, resulting in the mission being failedFixed an issue where the player could get stuck if the Trailblazer was destroyed when a certain cinematic triggered
