If you’ve been blasting through the Outer Rim lately, you’ve probably noticed that things feel a little different in Star Wars Outlaws. Honestly, the game has come a long way from its somewhat rocky launch. Massive Entertainment just dropped Star Wars Outlaws Update 1.16, and while the version numbering might look like a minor tweak on paper, the impact on how Kay Vess handles her business is pretty massive.
It's actually kinda wild how long it took to get some of these features. Remember the frustration of being chased by pirates on Toshara and having to wait for your adrenaline to charge just to fire a single shot? Those days are basically over. This patch is less about fixing broken textures—though there’s plenty of that too—and more about finally letting us play like the scoundrel the trailers promised.
What Really Changed in Star Wars Outlaws Update 1.16
The headline feature here is undoubtedly the Speeder free-fire mechanic. Before this, you were essentially a sitting duck on your speeder bike unless you used the "Adrenaline Rush" ability. Now, you can draw Kay's blaster and fire while driving. It changes the rhythm of the game. You're not just running away anymore; you're actively engaging in high-speed dogfights on the ground.
But it’s not just about the shooting. The update addresses a major gripe regarding pick-up weapons. In the base version of the game, if you grabbed a heavy E-11 blaster from a fallen Stormtrooper, Kay would just toss it aside the second you tried to climb a ladder or hop on your bike.
With the 1.16 update, Kay can now holster and swap between her primary blaster and these two-handed "power" weapons. You still can't keep them forever—they're still limited by ammo—but you can at least bring them with you to the next encounter. It makes those heavy weapons feel like a tactical choice rather than a temporary toy you're destined to lose in ten seconds.
The Trailblazer Gets a Needed Boost
Space combat in Outlaws always felt a bit "lite" compared to the ground game. This patch tries to beef that up by introducing new passive systems for the Trailblazer.
You can now visit Miyuki Traders—who have been upgraded to full-scale vendors—to buy specific upgrades that actually change how the ship handles. We’re talking about things like:
- Reduced shield strength in exchange for higher laser damage.
- Faster cooldowns on the repair system.
- New Ion modules that create massive shockwaves on impact.
They’ve also added a new batch of Space Contracts via the Miyuki Trade League. If you've already finished the main story, these contracts are basically the "endgame" content you've been waiting for. They’re harder, they require better ship builds, and the rewards are actually worth the effort of dodging TIE fighters.
Why Stealth Feels Less "Punishing" Now
Let’s be real: at launch, the stealth in this game was occasionally infuriating. One wrong move and you were back at a checkpoint from twenty minutes ago. Massive has been chipping away at this for months, but Star Wars Outlaws Update 1.16 adds some subtle polish that makes a difference.
The AI detection logic has been tweaked again. Enemies are now a bit more predictable in how they spot you, and the game provides better visual feedback. There’s a new indication of exactly when an NPC starts to notice you, which sounds like a small thing, but it prevents those "how did he see me through a crate?" moments.
They also fixed a weird bug where Kay would put her holotracker away whenever she crouched. If you're trying to find a hidden chest in a Syndicate vault, you can now actually keep your tracker out while staying low. It’s a quality-of-life fix that should have been there on day one, but hey, better late than never.
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The Visuals: RTXDI and Ray Reconstruction
For the PC players out there, this update brings some technical wizardry. They’ve updated NVIDIA RTXDI (RTX Direct Illumination) and Ray Reconstruction. Basically, if you have a 40-series card, the lighting in the cantinas and the neon-soaked streets of Kijimi is going to look noticeably sharper.
Console players aren't left out, though. They finally fixed that annoying color banding in the sky on PS5 and Xbox Series X. If you ever looked up at the stars on Tatooine and saw weird "rings" or pixelated gradients in the dark sky, that should be gone now. The game looks much more like a cohesive movie and less like a compressed video stream.
A Pirate’s Fortune and Hondo Ohnaka
It’s worth noting that this update dropped alongside the A Pirate’s Fortune DLC. Even if you don't buy the DLC, the 1.16 patch includes the ground-level fixes for everyone. However, the DLC is where the "endgame" really sits.
You get to team up with Hondo Ohnaka, the legendary pirate from The Clone Wars and Rebels. Just a heads-up: the game treats this as post-story content. If you haven't finished Kay's main journey yet, you won't be able to access Hondo's quests until you see the credits roll.
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The DLC adds about three hours of story content, but the real value is in the new contract broker, Reess Passik. He’s the one who handles the high-stakes space missions that test those new Trailblazer passive systems.
Key Takeaways from the 1.16 Patch Notes
To get the most out of this update, here is what you need to focus on:
- Claim your freebies: Go to the delivery crate on the Trailblazer. There’s a free cosmetic pack inspired by the Skeleton Crew series. It includes a new speeder skin and an outfit for Nix.
- Visit the Miyuki Traders: Don't just ignore them as resource pits anymore. They sell the passive ship upgrades now. If you want to survive the new space contracts, you're going to need those shield and weapon buffs.
- Practice Speeder Shooting: It takes a second to get used to aiming while driving, especially on a controller. Use the new "strong" aim assist setting in the accessibility menu if you find it too jittery.
- Heavy Weapon Management: Get into the habit of keeping that E-11 or DLT-19. You can now climb onto your speeder without dropping it, which means you can start your next infiltration with a lot more firepower.
Is It Time to Jump Back In?
Honestly, yeah. If you put the game down after a few hours because the stealth felt clunky or the speeder combat felt unfinished, Star Wars Outlaws Update 1.16 is the version you were waiting for. It feels like a finished product now.
The world-building was always top-tier—Ubisoft and Massive nailed the "lived-in" feeling of the Star Wars universe. Now, the gameplay finally matches that aesthetic. You’ve got more control, better visuals, and significantly fewer "cheap" deaths.
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To start the new content, make sure your game is updated to the latest version (it's around 3.8GB to 5.6GB depending on your platform). Once you load in, check your Journal for any new "Intel" regarding the Miyuki Trade League or the Skeleton Crew rewards on your ship. If you’ve finished the story, Hondo will be waiting for you to kick off the next chapter of your scoundrel career.
Check your accessibility settings first. They've added a ton of new toggles for things like "auto-vault" and "high contrast" modes that can make the navigation feel much smoother if you’re tired of Kay getting stuck on small rocks. Once you've tuned your settings, head to a Syndicate-controlled area and test out the new free-fire speeder mechanics—it’s the most fun you’ll have in the game.