Drawing Inspiration: How Ghost of Tsushima Shaped Star Wars Outlaws Into the Ultimate Scoundrel Fantasy

Star Wars Outlaws has taken inspiration from a surprising source in the world of open-world gaming: Ghost of Tsushima. Creative director Julian Gerighty pointed to PlayStation's visually stunning game as a significant reference point for developing his own open-world title.

After experiencing a hands-on preview of Star Wars Outlaws, the game brought to mind another iconic title, Red Dead Redemption. This seemed fitting, given the Western influences that shaped Rockstar's classic, which also echoes the inspirations of Star Wars. When discussing this comparison with Gerighty, he shared that his open-world reference had similar parallels to the films that influenced Star Wars.

According to Gerighty, Ghost of Tsushima offered more than just a beautiful world; it drew from the Kurosawa side of cinematic inspiration, differing from the Western perspective linked to John Ford that inspired George Lucas. The appeal of Red Dead Redemption lies in its treatment of the world as a living entity rather than a series of repetitive tasks. However, Ghost of Tsushima captivated Gerighty with its pure player fantasy, where every element—from the story to the gameplay—worked in harmony to immerse players in the experience of being a samurai ninja in Japan. This immersion became a guiding principle for Star Wars Outlaws.

In Star Wars Outlaws, the "player fantasy" immerses players in the role of an outlaw within the Star Wars universe. The development team has frequently discussed this concept in previous previews. Massive Entertainment strives to realize "the ultimate scoundrel fantasy," and based on the latest hands-on sessions, they are clearly on the right path.

From characters like Kay with her wrist tattoo of Nix to ND-5 and his unique jacket, the design of Star Wars Outlaws' characters aims to be both "very authentic" and "very new," blending familiarity with innovative elements.