Skip to main content

Star Wars: Squadrons will get free post-launch updates after EA changes course

Star Wars: Squadrons is getting two free post-launch updates that include a new map and ships. The announcement marks a reversal from original plans for the game that included no additional updates.

In October, Ian Frazier, the game’s creative director, told UploadVR that it was meant as an “old-school” project where everything in the game was on the disc on day one. A new blog post from Frazier announcing the DLC plans explained the sudden change in attitude one month later.

“We wanted to honor the classic games that came before us and provide everything to our players from the start in a nice, neat package,” Frazier writes. “But then we showed the game to everyone, and the reception was so much more than we could have hoped for. It only became more intense after release, too, so we couldn’t help but start working on something a little extra.”

The first free update lands on November 25 and brings a new map to multiplayer. Fostar Haven is a revamped version of an area that appears in the game’s single-player mode, but has been reworked for fleet battle and dogfight modes. The update brings new ship components as well, such as Prototype Piercing Torpedoes and Anti-Material Rocket Turrets.

A December update is described as a “final thank you gift for the holidays” and features some fan-requested features. The free drop will add the B-Wing and Tie Defender to the game as playable ships. Custom multiplayer matches will launch as part of the update as well.

Both free updates will come alongside general fixes to the game. For those looking to pick up the game in light of the DLC news, it’ll be heavily discounted during Black Friday, with GameStop selling it for $17.

Giovanni Colantonio
As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio oversees all things video games at Digital Trends. As a veteran…
How to play Kessel Sabacc in Star Wars Outlaws
Kay playing cards in Star Wars Outlaws.

Kay Vess will do just about anything to earn credits in Star Wars Outlaws. She's mixed up with a lot of dangerous people and cash is always tight. While there are plenty of missions you can do for the various Syndicates, as well as loot and treasures to find, plus locks to pick for some cash, those all come with a lot of risks. If you want to earn some credits the honorable way, Kessel Sabacc is this universe's preferred way to gamble. You'll be introduced to the game early on and instantly hit with a wall of tutorials and rules to somehow master in just a single game. While it shares elements with some card games you may know, it is entirely its own beast. Let's break down the rules so you know how to play the winning hand every time.
How to play Kessel Sabacc

Kessel Sabacc is played in three-turn rounds and goes as many rounds as it takes for only one player to be left with chips. You start with six chips and are dealt two cards with the option to draw and discard one card each turn for the cost of one chip. You can hold to pass your turn and keep that chip as well. At the end of three turns, everyone's hand is shown.

Read more
All Trophies and Achievements in Star Wars Outlaws
A spacecraft evades enemies.

Star Wars Outlaws invites you to get engrossed in not one, but many worlds. While it does share a lot of commonalities with other Ubisoft titles, specifically the best open-world games, it does break the mold in some appealing ways. Playing as a non-Force sensitive rogue named Kay, you will dive deep into the criminal underbelly of smugglers, rogues, and mercenaries all across the galaxy.

While it remains to be seen if it will be one of the best Star Wars games, we do know it has a very appealing list of Trophies and Achievements. Those who like to 100% games tend to shy away from Ubisoft games as of late for the sheer bloat of them, but Star Wars Outlaws might be more manageable. If you want to know what types of challenges await on your path to the Platinum, here are all the Trophies and Achievements in Star Wars Outlaws.
All Trophies and Achievements in Star Wars Outlaws

Read more
Star Wars Outlaws preload guide: release time, file size, and preorder
Kay Vass joined by her small alien companion called Nix in a futuristic city.

It's strange to think that of all the best Star Wars games, not one has been a true open-world experience. Ubisoft is looking to fix that with Star Wars Outlaws, which is among the most anticipated upcoming games of 2024. Taking place between episodes 4 and 5 of the original trilogy, we will explore a new side of the galaxy far, far away through the eyes of Kay Vess and her little alien buddy, Nix. Combining stealth, shooting, space combat, and more, Star Wars Outlaws is looking like a breath of fresh air for a franchise that can't seem to break away from the Force and lightsabers. But before you hop on your speeder and pull out your blaster, let's plan out this heist by telling you all about the preload options, file size, and preorders for Star Wars Outlaws.
Star Wars Outlaws release time

Star Wars Outlaws will be released on August 30, but the specific time has not been revealed just yet. We assume it will be midnight ET, but will update you once the times have been confirmed.

Read more