Why you may belief TechRadar
We spend hours testing each services or products we overview, so that you could be positive you are shopping for one of the best. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version is a wonderful model of the 2024 open-world Star Wars recreation. It runs extremely nicely general, with a body charge that hardly ever dips under its 30 frames per second (fps) goal whereas additionally pushing some spectacular ray tracing results. It would simply be one of the best Nintendo Change 2 port that we’ve seen but, particularly contemplating the truth that the unique launch would generally stutter on extra highly effective {hardware} just like the PlayStation 5.
Overview data
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Change 2
Accessible on: Nintendo Change 2, PS5, Xbox Collection X and Collection S, PC
Launch date: September 4, 2025 (Nintendo Change 2)
This implies you get the complete season go with two substantial new story chapters that take a complete of about 10 hours to beat. Oodles of cosmetics for protagonist Kay Vess and her companion Nix are additionally included, plus the brief pre-order bonus Jabba’s Gambit mission.
Whereas I may lament the truth that the handful of cosmetics from the Final Pack haven’t been thrown in too (although they’re nonetheless purchasable individually by way of the eShop if you would like them), that is nonetheless an unbelievable quantity of content material that encompasses all the most important DLC additions since launch.
It’s a straightforward promote on the asking worth of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.95 (and even much less on sale) when you think about that the Gold Version prices $109.99 / £104.99 / AU$169.95 on different platforms.
I discover your lack of religion… disturbing
All the pieces we beloved in our authentic Star Wars Outlaws overview rings true for this newer model.
When you’re a fan of the Star Wars universe, then you definitely’re going to like the peerless faithfulness of this adaptation. As an intergalactic rogue pressured to go on the run after a heist gone improper, you discover a sequence of enormous open-world planets as you regularly put collectively a crew and navigate relationships with a number of the galaxy’s most infamous prison clans.
Set between The Empire Strikes Again and Return of the Jedi movies, acquainted areas just like the desert plains of Tatooine are splendidly represented and seamlessly introduced alongside new additions just like the sandy Toshara Moon or dense jungle world of Akiva.
Finest bit
The 5 planets of Star Wars Outlaws are all a fan’s dream. It consists of the right mixture of nostalgic favorites like Tatooine alongside some extra attention-grabbing and exquisite inclusions just like the snowy world of Kijimi.
All over the place you discover seems very good on Nintendo Change 2, particularly in handheld mode. On the console’s 1080p display, it seems delightfully crisp and, though the standard of 3D fashions does take a small hit, the general expertise feels about on par with that of an Xbox Collection S, which is a really spectacular consequence.
In some regards, it truly seems higher right here than on the Collection S, with improved ray-tracing results in inside environments. Wandering across the densely populated metropolis of Mirogana early within the recreation, the lighting results seem wealthy and sophisticated. Places are crafted with a excessive stage of element all through the sport, and I’m glad that the enjoyment of often stopping to soak all of it in and pore over each small aspect of an area hasn’t been misplaced within the leap over to much less proficient {hardware}.
Issues do fare a little bit worse when the system is docked, although. Taking part in on a 4K TV, I seen upscaling was used very liberally, which lends sure areas fairly a blurry look. Wherever with a lot of vegetation, for instance, tends to look somewhat fuzzy, and Kay’s hair suffers from some noticeable aliasing. The pop-in within the open world turns into extra noticeable in docked mode, too. While you’re zooming round in your speeder, you’ll frequently see little bushes or shadows showing within the distance – however you get used to this in a short time.
Extra highly effective than you could possibly presumably think about
When you’ve skilled Star Wars Outlaws on one other platform, then you definitely’ll additionally have to acclimatize to the body charge when leaping over to the Nintendo Change 2 model. It is locked to 30fps right here, a change that was particularly noticeable as I in contrast the sport with its PS5 port aspect by aspect.
While you’re truly enjoying, it’s much less obvious, although, and builders Huge Leisure do deserve some critical credit score relating to simply how nicely Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version maintains that body charge goal.
Stutters are extraordinarily uncommon, and I solely seen them beginning to crop up in moments of very intense motion with a number of explosions, many enemies on display, shifting autos, and the like, unexpectedly. Importantly, the expertise is rarely rendered unplayable, and I believe the odd hiccup is a worthwhile trade-off for the chance to dip out and in of this recreation on the go.
I’ve been enjoying Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version sporadically because it launched again in September, and I did initially expertise a number of sudden crashes in longer play classes. With time, these appear to have been remedied via varied patches, although, so these leaping in as we speak can anticipate a comparatively flawless expertise.
With all of this mentioned, Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version nets a straightforward suggestion as one in all one of the best Nintendo Change 2 video games. When you’ve performed it earlier than, it’s a pleasure to re-experience in handheld mode with all the brand new DLC included. When you’re a newcomer, then you definitely don’t want to fret about struggling a compromised expertise on account of your alternative of {hardware}.
Ought to I play Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version on Nintendo Change 2?
Play it if…
Do not play it if…
Accessibility options
Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version has a devoted accessibility menu on Nintendo Change 2 with a lot of helpful settings and presets.
By default, the HUD has been scaled as much as 150% in handheld mode, with massive textual content dimension enabled.
There are additionally 4 menus designed to handle gameplay, cognitive, shade, imaginative and prescient, and listening to wants. Colour settings could be totally custom-made, and there’s a vary of issue choices.
How I reviewed Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version on Nintendo Change 2
I performed practically 15 hours of Star Wars Outlaws Gold Version on Nintendo Change 2, always evaluating my expertise of the sport with that of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X and Collection S variations.
I primarily performed within the console’s handheld mode, but additionally endeavored to spend a number of hours in docked mode with a view to assess its efficiency.
Of the 2 modes, handheld mode is certainly the strongest because the smaller display does a very good job of smoothing over most of the visible cutbacks. Whereas enjoying in docked mode, I relied on the official Nintendo Change 2 Professional Controller.
First reviewed January 2026

