REVIEW: Star Wars Outlaws (Nintendo Switch 2)

When Ubisoft Massive first revealed Star Wars Outlaws, it was pitched as the franchise’s first truly open-world adventure. A chance to live the fantasy of being a scoundrel making their way through the galaxy far, far away. The initial launch on other platforms drew mixed reactions, with a promising foundation that was hampered by technical hiccups and pacing issues.

Over a year and several patches later, the game has found firmer footing. The big surprise, though, is its arrival on Nintendo’s new hardware. A project that many thought impossible, Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Switch 2 not only works, it thrives. This is one of the most ambitious ports ever attempted on a handheld device, complete with raytraced lighting and reflections intact even in portable play.

So, how does it stack up? After a week exploring planets, dodging bounty hunters, and outsmarting Imperial patrols, here’s how the game fares on Nintendo’s new console.

Story

At the heart of Outlaws is Kay Vess, a brash young thief with a knack for getting in over her head. Alongside her loyal companion Nix, Kay dreams of pulling off one legendary heist that will cement her place among the galaxy’s most notorious outlaws. The timeline sits snugly between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, with the Empire tightening its grip while the criminal underworld seizes every opportunity to profit from the chaos.

The writing leans heavily on shades of grey. Contracts pit you against rival syndicates, and your choices carry weight. Supporting one cartel may open doors, but burn bridges with another. Conversations are laced with deceit, double-crosses, and more than a few moments where you’re forced to question who can be trusted. Ubisoft Massive’s commitment to this morally ambiguous storytelling pays off, giving the player a sense of agency that feels earned rather than scripted.

Kay herself evolves believably across the campaign. Early on she’s naïve, often swindled or misled in ways that reflect her inexperience. As the story progresses, she becomes sharper, more suspicious, and far more capable – a progression that mirrors the player’s own learning curve. That growth is matched by nuanced performances, particularly Humberly González’s vocal delivery, which captures Kay’s mix of swagger and self-doubt perfectly.

The Gold Edition bundles in the post-launch expansions, which add extra story arcs and flesh out secondary characters. It makes for a far more complete package than the game that debuted in 2024.

Gameplay

Mechanically, Outlaws is about freedom of approach. Missions can be handled with quiet stealth, aggressive gunfights, or a messy mix of both. Importantly, the Switch 2 version benefits from refinements introduced after launch: stealth sequences no longer result in instant failure if you’re spotted, instead flowing seamlessly into combat. This makes the pacing smoother and removes the frustration that plagued early builds.

Combat is snappy, anchored by Kay’s blaster and her unique slowdown-and-tag ability, which lets you mark targets for quick takedowns. Gunfights aren’t revolutionary, but they’re polished, responsive, and varied enough thanks to different enemy types and encounter designs.

Nix, Kay’s creature companion, plays a crucial support role. With a single button press, you can send Nix to flick switches, fetch dropped weapons, distract enemies, or even leap onto foes to create openings. It’s a clever system that keeps encounters dynamic and makes Nix feel indispensable rather than a gimmick.

Beyond the main story, Outlaws thrives on exploration. There are four primary planets, each with its own culture, ecosystems, and opportunities. Contracts and side quests add layers of progression, allowing you to upgrade Kay’s gear, customise her speeder, and enhance her ship. Resource gathering and crafting return, but the streamlined inventory makes it clear what to hoard and what to sell.

Mini-games like Sabacc add flavour. The ability to discreetly use Nix to peek at opponents’ hands is a cheeky touch that captures the game’s roguish spirit. These diversions aren’t essential, but they contribute to the sense of living a scoundrel’s life beyond the main campaign.

Expect around 25 hours for the core story with DLCs included, though those inclined to comb every corner could easily spend 60-plus hours before exhausting the content.

Visuals

Let’s address the big question: how does it look on Switch 2? If I was to sum it up in one word, it’s impressive. Ubisoft Massive has pulled off one of the most ambitious handheld ports to date.

The game runs at a mostly stable 30 frames per second, with only minor dips in crowded hubs or heavy combat. Dynamic resolution scaling is employed, with DLSS smoothing out the picture to great effect. Some compromises exist – fine details like hair can appear blurry, and textures in dense environments occasionally look softer than on more powerful systems – but these are small concessions for what’s being achieved.

The headline feature is undoubtedly the inclusion of raytraced lighting and reflections, a feature almost unthinkable on a handheld device. Walking through neon-lit streets in Canto Bight or creeping through an Imperial outpost bathed in moody shadows shows just how transformative these effects are. They bring a level of immersion and atmosphere that would normally be sacrificed in a port of this scale.

Character models remain expressive, environments are richly detailed, and cutscenes hold up without obvious downgrades. The new Cinematic HUD option helps keep the screen clean, allowing the visuals to shine without the clutter of traditional UI elements.

Audio design deserves equal praise. From the hum of speeders to the crackle of blaster fire, the soundscape is pure Star Wars.

Taken together, it’s hard not to see Outlaws on Switch 2 as a technical milestone – proof that Nintendo’s hardware is ready to handle ambitious open-world titles without sacrificing the spectacle.

Conclusion

Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is not just a strong port; it’s a statement. Ubisoft Massive has taken one of its most technically demanding projects and delivered it in a form that works seamlessly on handheld hardware without stripping away what made it special.

The storytelling is nuanced and rewarding, the gameplay flexible and satisfying, and the presentation a triumph of engineering. Yes, there are small blemishes – a touch of blur here, the odd frame drop there – but they pale in comparison to the achievement of running a game of this scope, complete with raytracing, in the palm of your hands.

For Switch 2 owners, it’s not only one of the console’s most impressive releases to date but also one of the best ways to experience the game as a whole, thanks to the bundled DLC.

Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) Pricing & Availability

Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition is available now on Nintendo Switch 2 for €59.99 via the Nintendo eShop. A physical Game-Key Card version is available from select retailers, including Smyths, for €49.99. Note that the physical edition still requires a download of around 20.9GB to play.