Star Wars BURNED? 😱 Ubisoft’s CEO just called Disney’s Star Wars TRASH, blaming it for Outlaws’ epic flop! Is the galaxy far, far away doomed, or is Ubisoft dodging their own mess? 🤔 Uncover the spicy truth behind this blockbuster blame game! 👉

The release of Star Wars Outlaws on August 30, 2024, was meant to be a triumphant milestone for Ubisoft, marking the first open-world game in the Star Wars universe, a franchise synonymous with blockbuster success. With a budget estimated at $200–500 million, including a record-breaking marketing push, the game promised players the chance to live as Kay Vess, a scoundrel navigating the criminal underbelly between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Yet, it sold only 1 million copies in its first month, far below the 5–6 million Ubisoft anticipated, contributing to a 10-year low in the company’s stock price. In a July 18, 2025, shareholder meeting, CEO Yves Guillemot deflected responsibility, asserting that the game launched “when the brand that it belonged to was in a bit of choppy waters,” implicitly criticizing Disney and Lucasfilm’s stewardship of Star Wars. This claim, amplified by headlines like those on That Park Place and X posts from @GameSpot, has sparked intense debate, with fans and analysts questioning whether Disney’s Star Wars is indeed “trash” or if Ubisoft’s own failures are to blame. This analysis explores the validity of Guillemot’s assertion, the game’s shortcomings, and the broader dynamics of a franchise caught in cultural and commercial crosswinds.

Guillemot’s statement, while not explicitly calling Star Wars “trash” as sensationalized, points to a perceived decline in the franchise’s appeal under Disney’s management since its $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. The Star Wars brand has undeniably faced turbulence, with the sequel trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker) dividing fans over narrative choices, particularly The Rise of Skywalker’s rushed resolution, which earned a middling 52% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Disney+ series like The Book of Boba Fett and The Acolyte—the latter canceled in 2024 due to low viewership—further fueled accusations of “franchise fatigue,” as noted on Reddit’s r/StarWars (u/leonida99pc). Some fans, like one X user (@Grummz), argue Disney’s rapid content output has diluted the brand’s cultural weight, once described as “America’s Mario/Pokemon” for its near-mythic status. The closure of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and the financial flop of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny reinforce perceptions of mismanagement, lending credence to Guillemot’s claim that the brand’s weakened state hindered Outlaws’ success.

However, this narrative falters when juxtaposed with Star Wars’ enduring commercial and critical successes. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023), developed by Respawn Entertainment, sold robustly and earned a 93% Steam approval rating, despite launching during the same “choppy waters” Guillemot referenced. Andor (2022) garnered widespread acclaim for its gritty storytelling, proving that quality execution can overcome fan discontent. On Reddit’s r/pcgaming, users like u/Turbostrider27 noted that Battlefront II’s resurgence, with 15,000 average players in 2025, reflects sustained appetite for Star Wars when delivered well. These examples undermine Guillemot’s assertion, suggesting that Outlaws’ failure lies more in its execution than the franchise’s health. The game’s 76–77 Metacritic score, while respectable, highlights repetitive combat, buggy performance, and a lackluster story, with IGN’s review citing “a few too many bugs at launch” and “polarized comments” pre-release due to cultural controversies.

Ubisoft’s internal issues amplify skepticism about Guillemot’s deflection. The company’s open-world formula, seen in Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, has been criticized for stagnation, with Reddit users (r/Games, u/Turbostrider27) calling Outlaws “just another Ubisoft game with a Star Wars skin.” Specific design flaws—restrictive stealth mechanics, a frustrating lockpicking system, and limited weapon options in a game about outlaws—alienated players expecting a GTA-style experience. The decision to launch on Ubisoft Connect rather than Steam initially deterred PC gamers, and allegations of bribing influencers with perks like Disneyland tours, as noted on r/StarWarsOutlaws, damaged credibility. Guillemot’s history of blaming external factors, such as “gamers’ extraordinary expectations” in 2024, echoes past controversies like those surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ delay, as recalled from your prior requests about Ubisoft’s financial struggles. This pattern suggests a reluctance to address internal shortcomings, with shareholders, per That Park Place, growing frustrated at Ubisoft’s inability to deliver polished games.

The cultural context further complicates the narrative. Outlaws faced pre-launch backlash over its female protagonist, Kay Vess, with some X posts (@TPPNewsNetwork) and Reddit comments (r/StarWarsOutlaws, u/JasonHoyler99) accusing Ubisoft of “pushing an agenda.” This mirrors controversies like the “Not My Zelda” casting debate or The Last of Us Season 2’s “woke” backlash from your previous conversations, where social media amplified cultural grievances. While some fans, as seen on r/pcmasterrace, dismissed Kay’s design as “unappealing” or “a female Han Solo,” others argued the hate was driven by anti-Disney sentiment rather than gameplay issues. Yet, ScreenRant praised Outlaws for avoiding Ubisoft’s bloated formula, citing its tighter runtime and immersive world, suggesting the game had potential that was overshadowed by technical flaws and toxic discourse.

The gaming industry’s high expectations exacerbate Outlaws’ struggles. Titles like Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 have raised the bar for narrative depth and polish, while Outlaws’ $70 price tag and post-launch discounts—ComicBook.com noted it dropped to $39.99 within months—discouraged full-price purchases. The planned Nintendo Switch 2 port in September 2025 aims to salvage sales, but as TheGamer suggests, many players had already dismissed the game due to its “mediocre” 7/10 reputation. Comparisons to Jedi: Survivor, which balanced action and storytelling with a compelling protagonist, highlight Outlaws’ failure to capture the outlaw fantasy, with Reddit users (r/StarWars) lamenting its “generic” story and limited combat options. This suggests Ubisoft misjudged what fans wanted from a Star Wars game, expecting the IP alone to drive sales.

Disney’s role cannot be entirely dismissed. The oversaturation of Star Wars content, with five films and ten Disney+ shows since 2015, has led to a perception that “Disney churned out so much crap,” as one r/pcmasterrace user stated. The Acolyte’s cancellation and The Book of Boba Fett’s lukewarm reception support this, yet Jedi: Survivor and Andor prove that quality can reignite excitement. Guillemot’s claim, while partially valid, overstates the brand’s decline, ignoring that Outlaws’ flaws—unpolished launch, restrictive gameplay, and a weak protagonist—were within Ubisoft’s control. The company’s broader struggles, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ delay and shareholder calls for leadership changes, reflect a deeper crisis, as noted in your prior discussions about Ubisoft’s financial woes.

The “trash” label, while a sensationalized headline, captures the frustration of fans disillusioned with both Disney’s output and Ubisoft’s execution. GamesIndustry.biz argues that Disney’s approach—treating Star Wars like “strip-mining” rather than “agriculture”—has depleted fan enthusiasm, but Ubisoft’s reliance on a tired formula and rushed launch exacerbated Outlaws’ fate. The interplay of brand fatigue, corporate missteps, and cultural clashes reveals a cautionary tale: even a legendary IP requires careful stewardship to thrive. As Ubisoft and Disney navigate their respective challenges, Outlaws stands as a reminder that blaming external factors cannot mask the need for innovation and quality in a market that demands nothing less.