Is Darth Vader in Star Wars Outlaws?

Star Wars Outlaws takes place away from the main conflicts between the Empire and the Rebels, but does that mean Darth Vader isn’t involved? We’ve got the answer below.

Kay Vess’ journey in Star Wars Outlaws is a different sort of story to what we’re used to. There’s no force-sensitive character taking center stage and no direct ties to either side of the Galactic War. Instead, the story is more grounded, though it features some familiar environments.

If you want to know whether Darth Vader appears in Star Wars Outlaws, we’ve got the answer. Be warned, major spoilers for the main story in Star Wars Outlaws lie ahead. This is your last chance to look away!

Does Darth Vader appear in Star Wars Outlaws? (Spoilers)

Yes, Darth Vader appears in Star Wars Outlaws. However, he only makes two fleeting appearances that provide further background on Sliro, the game’s main villain, and Vader does not play a central role.

Late in the story, while attempting to steal the blueprints for Sliro’s casino on Canto Bight in a heist, Kay Vess discovers that Sliro is a member of the Empire. Specifically, he’s the head of the ISB—a secretive branch of the Empire tasked with infiltrating the underworld and uncovering Rebel hideouts.

Vader is not happy with Sliro’s progress and makes it clear with a dramatic appearance, which Kay witnesses while hiding in a maintenance shaft. Annoyed with Sliro, he shatters glass nearby and hovers it above Sliro while issuing a threat—leaving Kay stunned, as this is the first time she has ever seen the force used.

Darth Vader appears again right at the end of the story to inform Sliro that he has been removed from his role after Kay and her crew complete the casino heist, a sequence that has further twists and turns we won’t go into here so as not to reveal too many spoilers.

A dramatic appearance from Vader in this manner is a great choice to hammer home the deeper connections that Star Wars Outlaws has within the vast universe of the franchise, without diverting us away from the main story developing with Kay Vess.