Ubisoft has rolled out the substantial Star Wars Outlaws update 1.002, delivering a comprehensive package of optimizations, bug fixes, and quality-of-life enhancements across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This patch, also known as Title Update 2, represents a significant step in refining the open-world experience following the game's launch in late August 2024. While initial sales may not have met publisher expectations, this update demonstrates Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to supporting the title, with further patches already scheduled for late October and November 2024. The focus here is squarely on addressing player-reported issues, improving stability, and polishing the core gameplay loop for aspiring scoundrel Kay Vess.
Performance & Stability Upgrades 🚀
The foundation of any good update is under-the-hood improvements, and 1.002 delivers. Players across all platforms should notice better overall stability and performance. A key fix targets frustrating FPS drops specifically for users with Intel ARC graphics cards. For PC players with modern Nvidia (RTX 40 series) and AMD (RX 7000 series) GPUs, the update brings better implementation of advanced features:
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Improved VRAM management for smoother texture streaming.
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Enhanced RTXDI (Ray Traced Direct Illumination) and Ray Reconstruction for more realistic lighting with less performance cost.
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Refined Frame Generation for supported Nvidia and AMD cards, making high frame rates more consistent.
These technical tweaks are crucial for maintaining immersion in the dense urban sprawls and vast planetary landscapes of the Outer Rim.
Gameplay Polish & Combat Tweaks ⚔️
Ubisoft listened to community feedback, implementing numerous changes to make Kay feel more responsive and combat more engaging.
Movement & Controls:
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Kay's movement animations, melee attacks, and takedowns have all received attention for greater fluidity.
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A quick-throw button for grenades has been added – a small but hugely welcome change for hectic firefights.
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Speeders now handle better with mouse controls, and collisions with the environment are less likely to send you flying.
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A handy new feature: press jump twice near a grapple point to activate it instantly.
Stealth & Balance:
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Using melee attacks now grants less adrenaline, preventing the ability from being spammed.
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Enemies are slightly less likely to detect you when using cover, rewarding careful positioning.
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The AI's reaction to environmental disturbances (like Nix setting off grenades) has been scaled more logically from investigation to full combat.
Fixes Galore: The list of resolved gameplay bugs is extensive, including:
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Kay sometimes not taking damage from blasters (a major exploit!).
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The grappling hook failing to snap to the correct position.
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Reputation loss occurring incorrectly in Syndicate districts.
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NPCs during speeder races not moving or despawning.
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Nix's "Sense" ability failing to highlight pickpocket-able targets.
Visuals, Audio & Cinematic Enhancements 🎬
Immersion is key in a Star Wars game, and this update tackles several rough edges.
Graphics: Beyond the performance boosts, players can expect:
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Fixed graphical corruption during cinematic takeoff/landing sequences and in space.
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Resolved flickering with specific gear sets when Frame Generation is enabled.
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Improved NPC visuals, ground textures, environmental terrain, foliage, and lighting (especially during nighttime planetary takeoffs).
Audio: The soundscape gets a boost with added background dialogue in certain locations and adjusted audio levels for environmental objects and character reactions. Several bugs where music would cut out or sound effects would get stuck have been squashed.
Cinematics & Camera: Lip-syncing, voice-overs, and dialogue scenes are improved for a more cinematic flow. The camera positioning has been adjusted for when Kay is in low cover, shooting, or climbing, offering better third-person perspectives.
Accessibility & Quality of Life Settings ♿
This is a standout area for the patch, making the galaxy far, far away more welcoming to all players.
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New subtitle options: Both Large Font and Bold Font settings are now available, with a prompt for first-time players.
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Auto-Mantle/Vault: Kay can now automatically climb over small obstacles.
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Auto Accelerate/Brake: Tied to the auto-walk button for easier speeder traversal.
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Adrenaline Rush Timer: A new setting allows players to double or triple the target selection time during this ability.
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Menu narration order was reworked for better logic, and missing closed captions for some explosions were added.
Quest Fixes – Spoiler-Free Roundup ✅
Numerous progression-blocking bugs and annoyances in main and side quests have been resolved. Without diving into spoilers, here’s where you’ll find smoother sailing:
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Canto Bight: Fixed an infinite loading loop in "The Heist" and adjusted credit-stealing requirements in "Beginnings."
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Toshara: Key fixes for "New Tricks" (where a call could break the Ion Blaster) and "The Wreck" (where quest markers and takeoff prompts could fail). Stealth in the "Underworld" quest is now more consistent thanks to adjusted enemy AI and patrols.
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Tatooine & Akiva: Issues with incorrect quest markers in "Viper" and soft-locks in "Revelator" have been addressed.
Mini-Games & Miscellaneous ✨
Even Sabacc, the iconic Star Wars card game, gets some love:
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Fixed a bug where the 'Cook The Books' shift token effect would persist for the entire game instead of just one round.
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Resolved issues with saved decks and tutorial soft-locks.
Photo Mode also received fixes, allowing camera rotation while Adrenaline Rush is active and preventing settings from resetting when switching presets.
Other miscellaneous fixes include better gun holster animations, a warning when spending large amounts of credits, and preventing players from throwing unlimited grenades. 👀
The Road Ahead
Update 1.002 is a solid foundation. According to Ubisoft's roadmap, the next major update is slated for October 24, 2024, with a focus on further quality-of-life improvements. This will be followed by another patch on November 21, 2024, coinciding with the game's Steam release. For players who enjoyed the core scoundrel fantasy but were frustrated by technical hiccups, this update is a compelling reason to jump back into the cockpit of the Trailblazer and take on the syndicates. The force of post-launch support is clearly with this one.
This discussion is informed by reporting from VentureBeat GamesBeat, a tech-and-business outlet that often frames major patches like Star Wars Outlaws Title Update 2 in terms of live-service cadence and player retention—context that helps explain why Ubisoft’s 1.002 emphasizes stability, performance tuning, and friction-reducing quality-of-life changes ahead of the next scheduled updates.