Why did Ubisoft cancel the Star Wars Outlaws sequel?

Ubisoft reportedly scrapped the sequel while still in pre‑production after the original game failed to meet sales expectations. This decision followed internal consensus that continued investment wasn’t justified without stronger performance.

Was Star Wars Outlaws considered a flop?

Despite being part of a massive franchise, Outlaws sold around one million copies in its first month—far below Ubisoft’s projected target of roughly 5.5 million units. That shortfall triggered concern internally and led to the sequel being terminated.

Did Ubisoft say why the game failed?

Yes—CEO Yves Guillemot stated that the broader Star Wars brand was going through a “turbulent phase,” contributing to weakened consumer interest. He also admitted that launch technical issues and lack of polish hurt the game’s reception.

Did the sequel ever reach full production?

No—the sequel never entered full production. It remained at an early conceptual stage, with no confirmed development milestones before the decision to cancel.

Could the game still return in another form?

Ubisoft continues to support Outlaws through post‑launch updates and is developing a Nintendo Switch 2 version scheduled for September 4, 2025. However, with the new game officially canceled and no development underway, a sequel appears unlikely.

Ubisoft Cancels Star Wars Outlaws Sequel – Flop Blamed for Cut Plans

Ubisoft has quietly shelved the sequel to Star Wars Outlaws. According to reporting from reliable insiders like Tom Henderson, the project never progressed beyond pre-production and was officially scrapped while still in very early stages.

🚩 Weak Sales Sealed Its Fate

Star Wars Outlaws launched in late August 2024 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Despite being part of one of the most iconic franchises, it sold only about 1 million copies in its first month—well short of Ubisoft’s internal goal of around 5 million units. For a AAA open-world game backed by a massive IP, that performance raised alarm bells internally.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot later pointed to broader issues affecting the Star Wars brand, suggesting the franchise was “in choppy waters” when Outlaws released. Mixed sentiment around media entries like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew, combined with controversy and lower-than-expected engagement, contributed to a general decline in consumer enthusiasm.

Guillemot didn’t shy away from acknowledging launch issues either. He admitted the game suffered from technical roughness and lacked polish at release—despite ongoing post-launch patches, damage was already done.

✍️ Reception: Critics Warm, Players Cooler

While critics generally gave moderate praise—many review aggregates landed around 75%—player forums told a harsher story. Common gripes included repetitive open-world fetch quests, uninspired storytelling, and buggy mechanics. One Reddit commenter summed it up by calling the gameplay “boring” and generic, despite enjoying some technical visuals initially.

That gulf between polished presentation and flat execution colored early user impressions and impacted long-term retention.

🚫 So, Why Didn’t the Sequel Move Forward?

Insiders indicate that because the first game didn’t meet expectations, Ubisoft never committed major resources to a sequel. Early development was limited—no formal production milestones were hit, and the team pivoted to patching the original rather than expanding the franchise.

The cancellation fits a broader pattern: Ubisoft is de-risking by cutting projects that don’t show clear promise, especially with recent financial pressures and multiple underperforming titles like XDefiant and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. That led to internal restructuring and forming a new subsidiary focused on evergreen franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six, with no place for a star-crossed Outlaws franchise.

Desert landing zone with transport ship in Star Wars Outlaws

🔄 Can Outlaws Still Bounce Back?

Possibly—but only as a standalone title. Ubisoft continues to support the game—drivers include significant bug fixes, quality-of-life updates, and an upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port slated for September 4, 2025. There’s a chance that renewed interest on Switch 2 could breathe new life into the title, but without sequel development, Kay Vess’s next chapter remains fictional for now.

Key Lessons from This Cancellation

Insight	Why It Mattered
Sales vs. IP power	Even a massive franchise isn’t enough—performance has to deliver.
Brand perception matters	When the broader Star Wars universe is under scrutiny, games suffer by association.
First impressions stick	Even strong visuals can’t save gameplay that feels flat at launch.
Risk management wins	Studios cut losses early when projects don’t justify continued investment.

Final Thoughts

Ubisoft’s decision to cancel Star Wars Outlaws 2 underscores the harsh reality of modern game development: even beloved IPs can falter if expectations aren’t met. Weak sales, negative user sentiment, and a shaky brand environment overshadowed the game’s strengths. Now, with the sequel quietly scrapped and no evidence of a reboot in sight, Outlaws may survive in patched form—improved and more stable—but it stands alone.

It’s a reminder that in the gaming world, story‑rich universes and polished graphics only matter if the foundation—sales, reception, execution—is solid. And sometimes, even the galaxy needs to reset.

May your next escape be smoother, and your choices better‑seeded.

Stay connected with the galaxy’s latest updates!

Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for exclusive content, mod guides, Star Wars gaming news, and more. Your support helps keep the Holonet alive—one click at a time!