Calling the launch of Star Wars Outlaws bumpy would be generous. Still, the game you can download on your console today is in far better shape, and you can see that for yourself without paying anything.
A free demo of Ubisoft’s open-world adventure is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. It gives you a proper sense of the game, and it costs nothing.
No catch and no subscription
Plenty of players overlook this detail: you don’t need a paid subscription of any kind to play the demo. Whether or not you have PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass, you can just download it and start playing.
Games are expensive right now, so that’s worth knowing. Many players gave up on Outlaws after its early stretch. Over the last few months, though, a steady run of updates has made it better.
A bigger demo than you’d expect
Most demos stop after a tutorial. This one has a lot of content, and instead of steering you down one narrow path, it lets you experiment with the game’s different systems.
A word of advice: play the space battles. They’re especially underrated, and if all you know about Outlaws is its launch trouble, they’re the part most likely to surprise you.
Game Pass gives you another reason to jump in now
The timing helps. The full game arrives on Xbox Game Pass this month, so you can use the demo to decide, at no risk, whether Kay Vess earns a place in your backlog before it joins the library.
The game received an 8/10 review that was upfront about both its strengths and its shortcomings.
The review stated: “While Star Wars Outlaws does have its pacing issues and there are moments where it feels restrictive, for the most part, it is still an enjoyable open-world experience to dive into. It’s definitely one of the more in-depth insights into and excellent explorations of the scoundrel side.”
The scoundrel angle is what draws people in. For decades, Star Wars has focused on Jedi and Sith. Outlaws spends its time with the smugglers and lowlifes who live between those two sides, a part of the galaxy fans have wanted to explore for a long time.
Who should try it
Dedicated Star Wars fans have most likely played it already and formed an opinion. This one isn’t aimed at them.
It’s aimed at everyone else, especially the players who heard the noise around the launch and moved on. With a free demo out now and a Game Pass release on the way, this is a clear chance to give one of 2024’s most underrated open-world games another try.
The review also hinted at where Kay’s story might head next: “How Kay Vess’ story plays into the wider franchise is yet to be seen, but with some major revelations in the final part of the game, there are bound to be some exciting consequences going forward from this excellent first adventure.”