Star Wars Outlaws launches on August 30, casting players as rooky scoundrel Kay Vess. The game will see players interacting with some of the Star Wars galaxy’s most infamous criminal syndicates, including the powerful Hutt Cartel. As developers recently explained, the game tracks the player’s standing with each gang through its Reputation system.
Developers explain Reputation in Star Wars Outlaws
Senior Narrative Systems Designer Alice Rendell and Lead Systems Designer Matthieu Delisle described Outlaws’ Reputation system in an interview with GameInformer. The game features four main criminal factions: the Hutt Cartel, the Pike Syndicate, Crimson Dawn, and the Ashiga Clan. Kay is not a member of any one organization, instead doing jobs for all four.
While completing a mission for one faction raises her Reputation, she will have opportunities to double-cross them in favor of another gang. This will usually net a higher reward and Reputation with the other syndicate, but it will hurt her Reputation with the initial faction.
Players can remain loyal to one faction if they choose, and there are benefits to making a faction like you. Rendell also gave the example of a mission where Star Wars Outlaws players must steal something from the Pike Syndicate. A hostile Syndicate can be a real problem, but a high enough Reputation lets Kay walk in and take it. Other perks include merchant discounts and access to faction-specific side quests.
Friendly factions can be helpful allies, while hostile ones will oppose her and may even actively try to have Kay killed. However, it’s also worth remembering that faction relationships in Star Wars Outlaws are purely transactional. A syndicate may become Kay’s temporary ally but never her friend. They may even try to stab her in the back, though such moments are limited to main-story missions.
Star Wars Outlaws likewise encourages players to keep their loyalties fluid. Often, it is better to align with whatever faction is most likely to be useful at the moment. Additionally, even if Kay makes a syndicate angry, there will be opportunities to return to their good graces.
