Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2: When the Force Definitely Isn’t With Ubisoft
With just days before release, the port of Star Wars Outlaws to Switch 2 is already causing concern. At PAX West 2025, the press got hands-on time with the game… and the first impressions are disastrous. Ubisoft adds another disappointment to its track record with a port that appears plagued by severe performance issues, raising serious questions about the French publisher’s strategy.
Scheduled for release on Switch 2 this September 4, the port of Star Wars Outlaws was meant to mark Ubisoft’s arrival on Nintendo’s new console. At PAX West 2025, a playable demo was available—but under unusual conditions: unlike other titles showcased at Nintendo’s booth, recording was strictly forbidden, whether through direct capture or over-the-shoulder filming. An exceptional measure that hints at the troubled state of the game.
Image credit: Ubisoft
Performance Issues in the Spotlight
This blanket ban on recording makes sense once you read testers’ conclusions: performance has been described as “rough” and “particularly disappointing.” Even more alarming, the demo only featured linear sequences aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer—far from the sprawling open worlds that define the game’s DNA.
According to the GVG team, who were present at PAX West, the game regularly dropped below 30 frames per second even in these confined environments—a threshold widely seen as the bare minimum for console play. The space combat sequence shown at the end of the demo fared slightly better, but visually failed to impress. Limited ray tracing occasionally looked good on Stormtrooper armor, but it couldn’t disguise a generally flat art direction, particularly in character lighting and hair rendering.
Another Blow for Ubisoft
This technical fiasco adds to Ubisoft’s troubled handling of the Star Wars license. Recall that CEO Yves Guillemot once tried to explain the original game’s commercial failure with questionable reasoning, even blaming the Star Wars brand itself for being in a “rough patch.”
Yet on other platforms, Star Wars Outlaws didn’t suffer from major performance issues once post-launch patches were applied. This problematic Switch 2 version now risks further damaging the game’s reputation, which was already struggling to win over mainstream audiences.
A Launch Clouded by Uncertainty
Of course, it’s possible the version shown at PAX West isn’t the final build launching on September 4. However, with less than a week before release, there’s little room left for substantial improvements. Official screenshots on the Nintendo eShop already suggested visual shortcomings. The situation brings to mind other rushed ports that stumbled onto new hardware in recent years.
For players tempted to jump in, it may be wise to wait for post-launch feedback before deciding. In the meantime, those eager to explore the universe can take advantage of the fact that the demo is already available on PS5, PC, and Xbox, where the game is technically far more polished.
This latest technical setback once again highlights Ubisoft’s ongoing struggle to deliver polished experiences on day one, raising doubts about the wisdom of its blanket multi-platform strategy.
