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Star Wars Outlaws Minigames: What Is The Lockpicking Minigame Explained

Become a master lockpicker by getting to grips with the Lockpicking or Data Spiking minigame and claim those prized jewels in Star Wars Outlaws.
Star Wars Outlaws Minigames: What Is The Lockpicking Minigame Explained
(Picture: Massive Entertainment & Ubisoft / Ashleigh Klein)

Star Wars Outlaws features a plethora of in-game content that players can embark on when starting the game. Whether they're following the main questline, engaging in World Event activities, or boosting their Reputation status, there's something to do in the galaxy far, far away, including participating in minigames.

There are a handful of minigames like Sabacc, Galactic Street Food Challenge, Slicing, and Lockpicking, which the latter will test their patience, motor skills, and listening to unlock the vault, door, or container and complete the minigame. This guide explains the Lockpicking minigame, how to unlock the Lockpicking skill, and a few tips to make this an easier experience in Star Wars Outlaws.

What Is The Lockpicking Minigame In Star Wars Outlaws? Explained

Being a Scoundrel does mean attracting all kinds of attention from the multiple syndicates and the Empire itself. It can also reflect unique job opportunities that will become available to Kay Vess, which means not only a chance to improve their Reputation with the syndicates and get acquainted with new NPCs but also more Credits and rewards to be earned.

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The Lockpicking skill will automatically be unlocked when starting Star Wars Outlaws. (Picture: Massive Entertainment & Ubisoft / Ashleigh Klein)

Whether it be completing the main or side quests, Faction quests, the Intel Chain quests, or just exploring the open-world environments, there will be multiple instances where Kay will encounter locked areas and interactive objects. This is where Lockpicking (or Data Spiking) factors as developer Massive Entertainment has brought a fresh perspective on lockpicking by implementing rhythmic patterns to help players become expert lockpickers in the galaxy far, far away.

This activity is a rhythm-based minigame and is one of the unlocked skills acquired from Bram, the Bartender Expert, at the start of the game. Kay will encounter inaccessible areas and objects during quests and explorations, for which Lockpicking requires the Data Spike tool, obtained during the first main story quest.

As she'll need 150 Credits to repair a damaged Data Spike received from Bram, she can use Nix to pickpocket NPCs, even Stormtroopers within the Worker's District, which any items stolen can be sold to merchants. Once sold, Kay can return with the Credits to receive the repaired Data Spike tool, predominantly used for Lockpicking or Data Spiking containers, vaults, doors, vents, and more.

Whether it's interacting with a vault, cache, vent, or door, a prompt will appear asking us to "Override Lock," which interacts with the lock and triggers the Lockpicking minigame. A datapad appears on-screen, in which a rhythmic beat plays along with a flashing light sequence and must be replicated in sync with the beat.

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When using the Data Spike tool for the first time, it will provide players with brief instructions on using it for the Lockpicking minigame. (Picture: Massive Entertainment & Ubisoft / Ashleigh Klein)

Syncing the rhythmic pattern to the beat seems easy enough; however, the lock will move or spin, for that matter, accordingly, which can throw players for a loop. While there are no limits to how incorrectly we can attempt to lockpick a vault, cache, vent, or door, timing is important, especially during quests when enemies can approach Kay in the middle of lockpicking.

We can absorb any damage dealt by the enemies to finish lockpicking or deal with the enemies and restart the Lockpicking minigame later. It's also worth noting that every lockpick has a different rhythmic pattern to replicate in sync, and it can increase its difficulty, and opt for a visualizer to help them with their lockpicking endeavors.

To enable these options, navigate to the game's Settings from the pause menu and select the Gameplay option. Scroll down the Gameplay options to locate the Minigames suboptions, and they can toggle the Lockpicking rhythm challenge settings to turn on or off the difficulty and visual cues for those who want an easier experience or embrace the challenge with Lockpicking.