When does Star Wars Outlaws take place?

Star Wars Outlaws is another chapter in the vast Star Wars franchise that spans thousands of years. With the franchise constantly jumping around in time, it’s understandable if some fans are confused about when it takes place.

Here’s what you need to know about when Star Wars Outlaws takes place.

Where does Star Wars Outlaws fall in the Star Wars timeline?

The Star Wars Outlaws story takes place between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. At this time, the Galactic Empire is still trying to stamp out a growing Rebel Alliance. Meanwhile, scoundrels like Kay Vess and the criminal underworld are thriving as the government’s attention is focused elsewhere.

There’s a one-year gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and Kay Vess’ story slots into the gap between these two films, showcasing what the galaxy looked like for those operating in the shadows.

This framing is perfect for the Star Wars Outlaws story, as it shifts the focus from the ongoing war between the Empire and the Alliance to the golden age that the underworld is enjoying. In Outlaws, players can engage with different criminal factions and choose their temporary allegiances while also doing Star Wars stuff like using blasters on enemies, exploring different planets, and riding Speeder Bikes.

While the films don’t cover this period in detail, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back ended with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa reuniting after that bombshell and Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca departing to rescue a frozen Han Solo from Jabba’s clutches. Outlaws takes advantage of this time to show how characters like Kay Vess can thrive amidst the chaos of the larger galactic conflict.

Han is one of the characters featured in Star Wars Outlaws. Lando is also featured and even meets Kay Vess for a game of Sabacc. This means that Key most likely runs into Lando when he is doing his best to rescue Han from the carbonite he’s frozen in at Jabba the Hutt’s palace.

The game clearly focuses on the underworld and the scoundrel’s lifestyle, but Kay Vess’ journey still features many iconic characters and locations most Star Wars fans are very familiar with. Her story takes place at a perfect time when no other content does, so the possibilities are pretty open.