Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card – Developer Strategies for Mastering Kessel Sabacc

Star Wars Outlaws is taking the galaxy by storm with its inaugural story pack, "Wild Card," which has just landed on Xbox Series X|S. If you’re eager to dive in, you’ll have to wrap up the Gunsmith quest along with Lando Calrissian’s High Roller quest to get started.

Once you’re in, you’ll find Kay Vess elbow-deep in intrigue as she’s recruited by Governor Thorden of Toshara for a covert mission. Her goal? To crash a high-stakes Kessel Sabacc game and seize a valuable prize. But things take an unexpected turn when she discovers there’s another secretive game lurking in the underworld. The Kessel Sabacc isn’t your run-of-the-mill card game; it’s exclusive, and Kay must rely on her cunning charisma to score an invite.

In "Wild Card," you’ll be matching wits with rivals at the Kessel Sabacc table, drawing blood and sand cards in hopes of forming a winning hand—but beware, once your chips run dry, so do your chances. This version unfolds aboard the casino cruiser Morenia, hosted by Protocol Droid EY-E9, who has a few house rules up her sleeve—shift tokens are off the table to keep the game honest.

Cheating, on the other hand, isn’t completely out of the question if you can get away with it. Star Wars Outlaws offers a trio of sneaky moves, including magnetic dice, Lando’s double draw trick, and spying with Nix. However, the lively setting of Wild Card makes it challenging for Nix to work his usual magic, but don’t count him out just yet. This time, he has a clever new trick: planting cards on opponents to get them booted for "cheating."

The stakes are raised as your fellow players might also have a few tricks up their sleeves. Kay needs to stay alert, listening for slip-ups and spotting sneaky moves to discreetly inform EY-E9. Catching others cheating could lead to them being shown the door.

The casino cruiser Morenia seats six around the Sabacc table instead of the usual four, adding to the thrill. With EY-E9 overseeing the events, players must be strategic and observant.

We caught up with Thibaut Machin, Ubisoft Paris’ game director, to get his insights on mastering the art of this revamped Kessel Sabacc.

Double Draw

Machin emphasizes the value of the double draw maneuver, learned from Lando. Normally, players use it for better card outcomes, quietly ditching the extra card away. However, in "Wild Card," using this cheat paired with Nix’s new card-planting ability is wise. It not only boosts your hand but also increases the likelihood of having an opponent ejected.

Gather Intel

Exploration is key, Machin advises. Roaming the Morenia provides essential tidbits about other players, crucial for discovering their cheating tactics and using that intel to your advantage during the game.

Have a Good Reputation

Morenia also hosts representatives from various syndicates invited by EY-E9. Making allies – or perhaps betraying a few – can ease Kay’s journey through the casino cruiser, enhancing your experience in the story pack.

Take Your Time

Patience, warns Machin, is vital. With so many dynamics in play, rash decisions could backfire. Be calculative with your chip usage and stay attuned to the vibe at the table. Engaging banter, like Lando’s witty remarks, adds to the game’s lively tension.

Don’t miss out on the adventure—jump into Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card on Xbox Series X|S today! And stay connected through the game’s official pages on Facebook, Instagram, and more for upcoming content and updates.