Ubisoft's upcoming video game Star Wars Outlaws will send players on a galactic adventure as they attempt to navigate the seedy underbelly of the galaxy far, far away.
While the game features an original story that follows a brand new character, Kay Vess, players will travel to familiar (and new) planets while dealing with legendary criminal organizations such as the Pyke Syndicate, the Hutt Cartel, and the Crimson Dawn. The recent story trailer for Star Wars Outlaws also mentioned a fourth faction, the Ashiga Clan.
The Ashiga Clan is an all-new faction that has been created by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games specifically for Star Wars Outlaws. The trailer didn't elaborate too much on this new syndicate, but GameInformer (via GameFragger) recently visited Massive Entertainment to learn about this new crime syndicate.
The Ashiga Clan has a large presence on the frigid, mountainous planet of Kijimi. Seen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Kijimi is an inhospitable world where local criminals rule in the place of the New Republic or the First Order. But the Ashiga Clan is looking to expand beyond Kijimi.
"They have a long tradition and certain events in the recent history put them at a fork in the road where there are different ways they could go forward, and they're not necessarily in agreement with what the best path forward is," associate narrative director John Björling explained.
They operate as a "hive of the Melitto species," Björling revealed. "You have these insectoid, humanoid, kind of very ant-like species and it's taking that principle of, 'What would a crime syndicate that is essentially operating like an anthill – what is that like?'"
"It's a syndicate with a long tradition, they have a strong hierarchy, and there's a lot about putting the hive before yourself," he added. "I think those aspects make it stand out as a unique kind of crime syndicate."
The Ashiga Clan may have been created for Star Wars Outlaws, but the collaboration between Ubisoft Massive and Lucasfilm Games means they are now officially part of Star Wars canon.
"Every week, we have several calls with them where we share what we'd like to do, the intentions, and they challenge us; we do a back and forth like that over several weeks to be able to get the shape language right, to get the lore right, to make sure it becomes part of Star Wars canon," creative director Julian Gerighty revealed. "The Ashiga Clan is part of Star Wars canon now. Toshara is part of Star Wars canon now. And that's super gratifying when you help design a creature that's as lovable and fierce as Nix and it becomes part of one of the most storied IPs in the world."
The official description for Star Wars Outlaws reads:
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 locations 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, the first open world Star War game ever, is set to release later this year on August 30, 2024. It will be available for PlayStation5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.