Star Wars lore is as rich as it is confusing, with multiple movies, TV series, and video games. There’s even a unique dating system, which is a little daunting. With this in mind, let me explain the timeline, connections, and implications and answer the question: Is Star Wars Outlaws canon?
Is Star Wars Outlaws canon?
Generally speaking, anything released under the Star Wars License is canon after Disney acquired the IP. The medium doesn’t matter, and events that take place during the various TV series and video games all share the same timeline.
It’s also worth mentioning that although Star Wars Outlaws is technically canon, it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be any overlap with other titles. There may be hints or subtle nods to other “known” events, but the story itself doesn’t have to merge with any other existing tale.
This rule has a few exceptions, like the Star Wars Visions animated anthology on Disney+ and the LEGO spin-offs. Also, if you want to try the recent Star Wars Jedi Survivor, you may want to first brush up on Jedi: Fallen Order.
When is Star Wars Outlaws set?
Star Wars has a dating system that marks events in Galactic history. This won’t be an in-depth guide to Star Wars lore, but dates on the timeline follow the ABY-BBY system. ABY stands for After the Battle of Yavin, and BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin.
For an easy reference point, Episode 4, A New Hope, occurs right in the middle at 0 ABY, 0 BBY.
Star Wars Outlaws takes place at 3 ABY, which is around the events of Episode 5, The Empire Strikes Back. This means you can place the events in Outlaws just before Episode 6, The Return of the Jedi.
Interestingly enough, the two previous EA Star Wars Games, Fallen Order and Survivor, took place just a few years before. Fallen Order takes place around 14 BBY, and Survivor is in the middle at 9 BBY. This means that it’s not likely that these two IPs will ever meet up.
With these timelines in mind, it’s worth noting that nothing is set in stone, and retcons frequently alter the timeline. One you may have spotted yourself is in Episode 5, where Obi-Wan states Master Yoda taught him the Jedi arts. In Episode 1, this was retconned, as Qui-Gon Jinn was his teacher.
What connections and implications exist in Star Wars Outlaws?
As retcons are common, none of the events in Outlaws will have long-lasting implications on the Star Wars timeline. That said, other Star Wars properties interact with it.
The most obvious is Jabba the Hunt from Episode 6 who takes center stage as the main boss behind the Hutt Cartel. There’s also Qi’ra from the Han Solo movie who is the acting leader of the Crimson Dawn in Star Wars Outlaws.
Another new Star Wars IP that is a lot of fun is Star Wars Hunters. If you want to try Star Wars Hunters but don’t like playing on a mobile, there’s a cheeky way around that platform restriction.
Published: Aug 23, 2024 02:00 pm