Star Wars Outlaws has excited fans and players alike after the release of its thrilling story trailer that introduces the epic journey of the young thief Kay Vess and her partner-in-crime Nix across the galaxy. However, aside from the gameplay, it also shows its connection to the greater Star Wars universe with the appearance of iconic characters from the franchise, like Jaba the Hutt. And in a surprising plot twist, it also features the return of the fan-favorite Qi’ra from the 2018 movie Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Eagle-eyed fans quickly catch a glimpse of Qi-ra in the Star Wars Outlaws trailer as Sliro talks about the most powerful criminal organizations in the galaxy. As he mentions them individually, Pykes, Crimson Dawn, and Hutts, an image of Qi’ra appears. Though it’s only for a mere second, it’s enough to excite fans about this character's future.
Talking about the upcoming video game, its developer, Massive Entertainment (via Game Informer’s cover story), confirmed the appearance of Qi’ra in the open-world sci-fi spinoff. Kay Vess is about to face several criminal bosses, and Qi-ra will be one of them, representing Crimson Dawn.
You can see Qi-ra’s appearance in Star Wars Outlaws trailer at the eight-second mark.
Who is Qi’-ra and what is her connection to Crimson Dawn in Star Wars Outlaws?
Qi-ra was first introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story, played by the Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke. She’s a crime lord from the planet Corellia who grew up on the streets with Han Solo as part of the White Worms. After being sold into slavery by Proxima to the dealer Sarkin Enneb, she was then sold to Dryden Vos, the public face of the criminal syndicate Crimson Dawn.
Vos trained her in martial arts and ordered her to kill Enneb, eventually making her his most trusted lieutenant. She was last seen talking to Sith Lord Maul, the true leader of Crimson Dawn. As Star Wars Outlaws will delve into the franchise’s criminal underworld, the game seemingly provides opportunities for Qi-ra to return to the fold. However, despite the character’s return, Game Informer editor Brian Shea revealed Clarke would not reprise her role in the video game in a post on X.
What is the gameplay of Star Wars Outlaws?
Star Wars Outlaws will be set between the events of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi. It will explore the planets across the galaxy and feature the journey of Kay and Nix. Here, players will live the life of an outlaw, join epic fights using blasters, and face enemies with stealth and gadgets. They can also enjoy the mission rewards from crime syndicates, steal valuable goods, and infiltrate secret hideouts. And because this is Star Wars, they can also pilot their own ship called the Trailblazer and come face-to-face with the Empire.
You can read the overview below:
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars ™ game, set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, a scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted.
Star Wars Outlaws is set to be available on August 30, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Ubisoft Connect. Players who purchase the Gold Edition or the Ultimate Edition will receive early access on August 27, 2024. It’s also now available for pre-order, and early shoppers can get their hands on the two bonuses: a cosmetic pack for the speeder and a cosmetic for the Trailblazer.
Aside from Qi-ra, fans should also look out for other Star Wars characters that will appear in the game! With Jaba the Hutt and Han Solo’s iconic carbon-freezing already unveiled, there may be more surprising characters set to make an appearance.
