Star Wars Outlaws, the latest game from Ubisoft, sold just 1 million copies in the month since its launch on August 30, 2024. This figure is significantly lower than Ubisoft’s initial expectations, especially considering the game’s large marketing budget. Set in the expansive Star Wars universe, the game was expected to be a major success, but sales have not matched these projections.
Despite its rich storyline and immersive gameplay, Star Wars Outlaws struggled to attract a broader audience, leading to an underwhelming first month of sales.
Why Did Star Wars Outlaws Underperform?
One of the primary factors contributing to the underperformance was the game’s technical problems at launch. Players encountered bugs that led to the loss of saved files, requiring them to restart their progress. This frustration likely caused some potential buyers to hesitate, waiting for the issues to be resolved before purchasing the game.
While the game received a score of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic, the user score was notably lower at just 5.4 out of 10. This discrepancy between critic and user reviews may have deterred some potential customers. The game’s technical issues, combined with the lukewarm reception from players, appear to have impacted its ability to appeal to a wider audience.
Ubisoft’s Response and Future Plans
In response to the disappointing sales, Ubisoft has announced a series of updates aimed at enhancing the game. These updates, set to release on October 3 and October 24, will focus on fixing bugs and improving the overall player experience. Ubisoft is also planning to release additional free content, such as contracts, and the game’s first story pack on November 21, 2024.
Another major step in Ubisoft’s strategy is the release of Star Wars Outlaws on Steam, scheduled for November 21, 2024. By bringing the game to Steam, Ubisoft hopes to reach a broader audience and potentially boost sales, especially during the holiday season.
Impact on Ubisoft
The lower-than-expected sales of Star Wars Outlaws have had a notable impact on Ubisoft’s financial standing. The company’s share prices dropped, and there have been internal discussions regarding the game’s performance. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot acknowledged in an internal memo that the game’s launch was “softer than expected.”
The performance of Star Wars Outlaws has also affected Ubisoft’s release schedule for other games. Notably, the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows, originally scheduled for a November 2024 release, has been delayed to February 14, 2025. Ubisoft explained that the extra development time will be used to polish and refine the game, ensuring a more successful launch.
Looking Ahead: Can Star Wars Outlaws Recover?
Despite the initial struggles, Ubisoft is committed to improving Star Wars Outlaws and reaching a larger audience. The upcoming updates, story expansions, and the Steam release represent key steps in this effort. If these updates resolve the game’s technical issues and enhance the player experience. There is potential for the game to recover in terms of both sales and reputation.
Ubisoft is also taking this experience as a learning opportunity to improve its future game launches. By addressing the problems that hindered Star Wars Outlaws and ensuring a smoother launch for its other titles, Ubisoft hopes to regain the confidence of both players and investors.
Conclusion
Star Wars Outlaws has had a rocky start, with sales falling below Ubisoft’s expectations. Technical issues and mixed reviews contributed to its slow start, but the company is making efforts to turn things around. With planned updates, additional content, and a Steam release on the way, there is still hope for Star Wars Outlaws to recover and perform better in the long run. Ubisoft’s response to this situation will be critical in determining the game’s ultimate success.
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