Star Wars Outlaws: The Beginner’s Guide To Exploring The Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars Outlaws features an expansive world, unique gameplay mechanics, a thrilling narrative, and plenty of activities to keep Kay and Nix occupied during their adventures. To help players along their epic saga in the galaxy far, far away, there are a few things to remember when traversing throughout the Outer Rim.

Whether new to an open-world game or want the best immersive experience possible, these general tips ensure they can start Star Wars Outlaws in the best and most practical way possible. With that said, we've presented some valuable beginner's tips to help them in their journey for Star Wars Outlaws.

Star Wars Outlaws Beginner's Guide: Tips & Tricks To Master Life On The Run

This beginner's guide for Star Wars Outlaws covers a handful of aspects we'll discover or encounter through exploration and during the main story and side quests. We'll also tackle Faction quests related to the Reputation and Expert systems and highlight important gameplay mechanics and features that help flesh out the narrative themes throughout their in-game adventures.

The Galaxy Is Their Oyster

Developer Massive Entertainment and publisher Ubisoft have made it known that Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure title, making it the first Star Wars open-world game. As such, the world is quite expansive as we get to spend ample time across all planets, starting from Cantonica, where we begin Kay's journey, and when exploring each planet, multiple areas are under control by one of the syndicates or the Galactic Empire.

Exploration will be slightly restricted due to the Reputation system coming into play, which will increase their trust and allow them to explore these restricted areas. Often, Treasure spots and intel will lead into these restricted areas, which means valuable items can be tracked down and get their hands on Credits, but having the Data Spike ready may be handy.

From Scoundrel To Scavenger

Speaking of exploration, any game touted as an open world means there are plenty of things to find that can be of some value or not. Some items like Credits, crafting materials, and more can easily be spotted atop counters and large containers or inside caches that are highly valuable, which we advise holding onto for Blaster, Speeder, and ship upgrades and armor sets.

It may be a habit for us to pick up items whenever we're exploring, but beware, as they may enter controlled or restricted areas where they could see themselves being hunted down by Bandits, for example. Some invaluable items can be sold to merchants for extra Credits, which we recommend visiting them for as they will carry intel that can lead them to unique rewards like cosmetic items, speeder parts, and other items.

Never Too Late To Read The Tutorials

A few don't care too much about the tutorials, but they can be highly valuable if we take some time out of our busy Scoundrel life to read through them. The Tutorials are split into two categories, Kay and Nix and Vehicles, each providing details on unique mechanics applicable to them.

For example, under the Kay and Nix category, there will be a list of unique features and mechanics that apply to either character, like the Nix Sense or the Adrenaline Rush for Kay, which a brief video tutorial will play to inform us how it works and its controls visually. Especially if players have forgotten the controls or how they work for different scenarios, never underestimate the importance of Tutorials!

In Quest Of Completion

Let's dabble with the quests, as Star Wars Outlaws features multiple types of quests, which can confuse what to prioritize first. While the game can be completed in under 25 hours by prioritizing the main and side quests, it can take players much longer to complete it if factoring in the Faction (Syndicate) quests.

Regarding the Faction quests, it would serve players well to keep them until the end of the main story questline as there will be multiple instances where reputation with certain factions will be impacted by decisions made. The Faction quests will allow them to renew faith and trust in these syndicates once the main and side quests are done and dusted, so hold onto them well once the credits have rolled.

Kay, You're Gettin' Intel!

As we've mentioned side quests in our previous beginner's tip, Intel chain quests are one of the side quests that can be completed along with the merchant quests. The Intel chain quests are associated with the Expert system, where Kay can earn unique skills and upgrades, which can be highly beneficial much later on.

However, intel not only relates to the Intel chain quests but also to pieces of information Kay may stumble upon when exploring the open world. Whether sitting in on private conversations, inquiring from various NPCs, purchasing them from merchants, finding datapads, and more, Kay can ultimately decide what and how to use this information to her advantage, especially if it concerns the syndicates.

Stealth, Stealth, And Nix

Star Wars Outlaws will see Kay Vess in precarious situations where gunfights and explosions are not the way to progress certain quests. Instead of channeling Snake, Kay must adapt to the situation and opt for stealth tactics to navigate around areas and tiptoe past enemies.

Stealth may be a slight nuisance to some players; others may thrive in this silent yet deadly approach, but Kay has an advantage: Nix. Nix will be extremely helpful during the stealth sections by sending them to attack or distract enemies, sabotage panels and explosive barrels, open vents, and doors, and protect Kay in critical moments.

Photo Mode For Extra Set of Eyes

One of the many questions that players are likely to ask is whether Star Wars Outlaws has a photo mode, which we can confirm it does have and is quite intuitive. While we can anticipate some stellar photographic moments once they jump into the game, we have found a rather nifty way to use Photo Mode that can be highly beneficial during specific segments of various quests.

During stealth quest segments, we found that using the Photo Mode to get a peek around corners or what's behind obstructions helped determine if enemies are nearby. This allows us to send Nix to distract them before sneaking past them and avoid getting caught or performing takedowns on an enemy close by, which we can also whistle to lure them to our location.

How To Save Kay's Life

There will be instances where Kay may incur some damage, and using Bacta Vials comes in handy as it replenishes some of her health. However, they'll realize that Kay can only carry two Bacta Vials at any given time, meaning they'll have to decide when's the right time to heal or tank the damage.

There will be a way to increase her health, and the number of Bacta Vials carried, but until then, it's best to remain in cover before healing up, as the process can be interrupted, leaving Kay more vulnerable. Another option is to use Nix to protect Kay, which may give her a small window to replenish her health.

No Mini Map? No Problem!

Something that players should quickly get accustomed to is that there's no minimap present on their HUD. This is quite a strange omission; even when browsing through the settings, there isn't one in the bottom corner of the screen, making exploration a little struggle.

However, there is a way to best orientate themselves by heading into the game's Settings from the pause menu, scrolling down to User Interface, and looking for HUD settings. Here, they can toggle the HUD visibility, which adds a background behind the HUD, making it more visible when in-game, and can help with navigation and exploration when a minimap is not present.

Fast Travel, Fast Life

Also, another feature that players may ask is if there's a Fast Travel system, which there is, but they'll have to wait until they've reached Mirogana to begin tracking down the Fast Travel points. As standard with the Fast Travel system, we can use this feature by accessing the map and locating a Fast Travel point before traveling to that location.

We've also discovered that we can use the Fast Travel system to teleport quickly out of hostile territory, teleport to nearby quest locations, or flee stealth areas. There's no limit as of writing on when to use the Fast Travel system, so use it to the best of your ability, and don't forget to find more scattered across the planets in the Outer Rim.

Trailblazin' Across The Galaxy

Let's focus on the Trailblazer, the ship that Kay Vess will commandeer throughout her adventures throughout the Outer Rim, one of the centerpieces in the main story questline. This ship isn't Kay's only mode of transportation, as she'll also acquire a Speeder, but the Trailblazer serves multiple purposes other than jumping into hyperspace and engaging in epic dogfights.

The ship is Kay's home away from home as she'll gain access to the entire fleet and the multiple rooms, each with a unique purpose for Kay. Beside the cockpit is her living quarters, where she can access the Wardrobe, where they can change her and Nix's appearances by equipping various cosmetic items found and earned through progression and the cosmetic DLC packs.

Kay can modify her Blaster by equipping or assembling new upgrades in the workshop space near the main entrance. The loading dock is where she'll first find the Speeder, but it's also where the Delivery Caches are located; accessing them will grant them the cosmetics from the aforementioned DLC packs and rewards earned from the syndicates determined by her reputation with them.

I Got A Need For Speed!

We've mentioned the Trailblazer, so let's pivot to the Speeder, which becomes available once they've escaped Canto Bight with the ship before crash landing on the next planet. And yes, we know the steering mechanics are quite janky at first, but after some time, it should be somewhat easy to control once they've acquired intel for a specific Expert.

It's extremely important to complete the related Intel chain quest, as completing it will grant them access to this specialist, and they can begin fulfilling various objectives to unlock more upgrades for the Speeder. However, to equip them, they can locate any Speeder Mechanic throughout the Outer Rim, but it will cost them a few Credits to install them, and they'll be tearing up the sand, water, and grassy plains in no time.

Oooh, What A Rush!

While we'll discuss this in a separate guide, a unique ability unlocks after landing spectacularly on a planet called the Adrenaline Rush Tag. Players familiar with Red Dead Redemption's Deadeye ability will immediately know what's being referred to, but the Adrenaline Rush Tag lets Kay eliminate multiple enemies simultaneously.

Building up the Adrenaline meter is straightforward before triggering it by marking enemies before elimination, which does slow down time. Unfortunately, they'll depend on this mechanic to shoot enemies while on the Speeder, which is quite a letdown.

Wanted: Dead Or Alive!

The Wanted system is a mechanic inspired by another video game, this time Grand Theft Auto, where the Empire can relentlessly pursue Kay for crimes committed against its Imperial forces. Massive's Creative Director Julian Gerighty briefly discusses this mechanic in an Entertainment Weekly interview, where increasing their Wanted level could have dire consequences.

With six increasingly challenging levels where types of Stormtroopers will be hot on Kay's heels, Geighty stated that if it was too high enough of a wanted level, she could see Death Troopers coming after her, and something "even worse" could also happen. Having the Speeder ready at her beckoning and utilizing various skills and abilities can make this feat much easier to evade, but we advise caution if you don't want Death Troopers in hot pursuit.

That Lock 'n Slice Life Ain't For Me

Star Wars Outlaws features multiple minigames, including Sabacc, Street Food Challenge, Data Spiking (Lockpicking), and Slicing, that players will encounter during their gameplay. While Data Spiking and Slicing will be discovered early in the main story questline, they can be disabled if these experiences disrupt the immersion.

Navigate to the game's Settings from the pause menu, scroll down to Gameplay, and locate the Minigames options where they can toggle each minigame on or off. There are additional settings like toggling visualizers or increasing their difficulty if players like a real challenge when interacting with these minigames.

Yes, You Can Pet Space Critters In Star Wars Outlaws!

Just answering a frequently asked question whenever a game releases that features animals or critters. But yes, there are plenty of critters to find in this open-world game, and you can get an option to pet them!