Video games of all scopes and sizes are a colossal creative challenge. That's especially true of Star Wars Outlaws, the first single-player focused title from developer Massive Entertainment and the first open world adventure set in a galaxy far, far away. Over 600 developers contributed to the project across the Ubisoft stable, the group spending no fewer than four years working to bring this experience to life. An experience that had to feel authentic to the most famous trilogy of films in existence, and open enough so that players are free to roleplay an up-and-coming scoundrel in the Outer Rim.
Creative director Julian Gerighty and game director Mathias Karlson may be playing Neon White and Rocket League in their free time, but it's easy to understand where their passion for shouldering the challenge of Star Wars Outlaws' construction comes from as we discuss the video games they love, and why. "When you look at Rockstar Games, GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, they are such works of incredible scope and detail at every single level; they are endlessly inspiring for professionals," says Gerighty. "They make a lot of decisions that you can agree or disagree with, but the level of execution, the level of imagination and commitment to what they are doing, is commendable. You'd be hard pressed to find a developer who, deep down in their jellies, doesn't recognize that." Karlson adds: "Elden Ring is a fantastic experience, and I could talk at length about the key steps FromSoftware took across its previous games to make it the monster success that it has become. But the way you can just be curious, and be rewarded for just following your nose – especially throughout a game of that scale – is really very impressive."
