Ubisoft Boss Names Who He Blames for Star Wars Outlaws’ Failures

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Nearly a year has passed since Star Wars Outlaws was released, and it received mixed reviews and underwhelming sales. During a recent meeting with investors, Ubisoft’s chairman and CEO, Yves Guillemot, was asked about this situation.

Guillemot responded by suggesting that the issue is part of a larger problem affecting the well-known Star Wars brand. Instead of addressing the game’s technical issues at launch or any problems during its development, he quickly shifted the blame to the entire franchise.

A Disturbance In The Force?

Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012, Star Wars has faced many ups and downs. Guillemot seems to believe that Star Wars Outlaws was released at a time when the brand was struggling. In July 2024, the series saw trouble:

“Outlaws was released at a time when the brand that it belonged to was in a bit of choppy waters.” -Yves Guillemot

It makes sense to expect a big franchise to maintain its popularity when launching an expensive game. However, 2024 was not a great year for Star Wars overall. The Acolyte, a live-action series, had just completed its single season, leaving fans divided. On the animated side, Young Jedi Adventures had launched its second season, but it may not appeal to all audiences.

However, the problems with Star Wars Outlaws likely go beyond the brand’s reputation. Just a year before, in February 2023, EA and Respawn Entertainment impressed many with Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, which sold well and made a cultural impact. I doubt Guillemot’s claim that Outlaws’ main character, Kay Vess, struggled because of Star Wars’ troubled state at the time.

TheGamer’s Jade King rated Star Wars Outlaws 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that “there [were] times when I didn’t want to put this game down, which only made its glaring omissions all the more noticeable.” She pointed out flaws in the story and unpolished elements that received attention online.

During the same meeting, Guillemot hinted at a new Ghost Recon game. After discussing Rainbow Six Siege X, he mentioned plans to “capitalize” on future launches like The Division and Ghost Recon. (Great catch, Game File!)

Hold on, what upcoming Ghost Recon launch?