Credit: @starwarsoutlaws on Instagram
“Star Wars Outlaws” launched a major update to enhance the player experience for the game, but beyond bug fixes and gameplay adjustments came the addition of an exciting minigame that many Star Wars fans may already be familiar with. The 1.4 update to the open-world game addressed common grievances from fans regarding stealth mechanics and other features, and it also brought in the game’s first downloadable content (DLC) called “Wild Card.” It features Sabacc, an already-established card game in the Star Wars universe, and is similar to real-life poker.
Sabacc is known as the most popular card game in the Star Wars galaxy, and it’s played a surprising role in the lore of the franchise’s most beloved characters. It’s the game that won Han Solo the Millennium Falcon from notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, who also appears in “Star Wars Outlaws.” The gaming aspects are amplified as the minigame storyline also features protagonist Kay Vess navigating a full-on Sabacc tournament she’s hired to infiltrate. Aside from playing through the story, players can also play Sabacc for themselves to enjoy a thrilling and refreshing gameplay experience like real-world poker offers.
While “Star Wars Outlaws” is still relatively new, it’s a testament to the commitment of Lucasfilm to expand the franchise’s gaming side of the business, and the addition of the “Wild Cards” DLC ensures players continue to get exciting content to keep them engaged.
Playing Sabacc
The mechanics of Sabbac are similar to poker. There are yellow and red card decks with cards with a number on each. The goal is to find a matching pair with one card from each deck. Players draw and discard cards to get a pair and can pass once they’re satisfied with their hand.
Everyone lays out their cards when the round is over, and the player that has the pair with the lowest numerical value wins. If a pair isn’t possible, the next best option is to have cards with the smallest difference in values. While it seems simple, the stakes are still high. Players have to give a coin for each card they draw. Everyone starts off with eight and can’t draw anymore once they run out, but the winning player earns back what they spent. A player loses when they run out of coins and play a losing hand.
There are also wild cards in the game that can dramatically alter the outcomes and give you more chances to win if you’re lucky enough to draw them with the right conditions.
High-stakes gaming
Sabbac isn’t too dissimilar to real-world card games, and it’s not Star Wars’ first foray into high-stakes gaming, as the universe takes advantage of its unique setting. Podracing is the epitome of high-stakes gaming, with players speeding around tracks at dangerous speeds, gambling for their lives. One of the most prominent podracers was human slave Anakin Skywalker, who showed off his skills in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Casinos are also a part of the Star Wars universe, with Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi featuring the Canto Bight city that’s filled with casinos and racetracks.
The lines blur between the fictional world of Star Wars and real life, as well. Casino games inspired by the franchise and its aesthetics are all over online platforms nowadays taking inspiration from the famous franchise. Americas Cardroom features games such as “Anaki Skywalkers”, which gives a clear nod to the character. Other sci-fi slots like “Space Project” embrace the space-age vibe that Star Wars helped popularize. Star Wars games even made it into the real world, with a variant of Sabbac being distributed at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and had a physical deck. Just as reality influenced the high-stakes games of Star Wars, so has the franchise shaped gaming in the real world.
Is it any good?
On a whole, “Star Wars Outlaws” has been met with mixed reviews. Insights from Forbes highlight that many players are critical of many gameplay aspects but applaud the immersive and real atmosphere and the likable characters. However, the Sabacc minigame has quickly become a fan favorite, and many players are captivated. It’s simple enough compared to other Sabbac variants but still requires enough strategy, keeping the game high-risk and challenging without being too frustrating. The game spices things up by allowing Kay to cheat, which adds an extra thrill and provides a player advantage that can help you play the best hand on the table. Playing also has in-game benefits beyond entertainment; a review from Gaming Bible mentions that you can earn credits from playing and spend them on outfits or materials to upgrade your gear. It’s a nice change of pace and a refreshing addition to the game that players love.
The Sabacc gameplay is a unique and fun addition to “Star Wars Outlaws” that sets it apart from other games in the franchise, such as “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” and others. The “Wild Card” DLC brings a lot of excitement to the video game and allows players to enjoy a new adventure.
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