Star Wars Outlaws authors talk about the re-creation of Sabacc and its impact on gameplay

At the GDC 2025 conference, Ubisoft Paris game designer Jean-Baptiste Sirodin revealed details of the creation "Kessel Sabacc" - an updated version of the gambling game from the Star Wars universe, which became a key mini-game in Star Wars Outlaws.

Sabacc is an analogue of poker for space adventurers, allowing players to immerse themselves in an underground world where they can earn credits and reputation. In Outlaws, the developers introduced a new version - “Kessel Sabacc”, which combines the simplicity of blackjack, elements of craps games (like 421 and Yahtzee) and tactical solutions.

“We didn't have to start from scratch—the game already had a legacy. She appeared in various media, and there was also “Pazaak” in Knights of the Old Republic, which is somewhat similar,” the designer explained. There were also references in the film “Han Solo.”

At the same time, we could not do without our own ideas. Prototypes were tested at a regular table with cards - this sped up development. The final rules include "shift tokens" - action cards that spice up gameplay.

The mini-game is integrated into the world of Outlaws through “diegetic storytelling” - without a separate screen. The game's heroine Kay and her companion Nyx play at a table with NPCs, and players can bluff, cheat, or take a chance by sending Nyx to spy on their opponents' cards.

Despite the 3D visuals, Sabacc is technically a 2D game - all gameplay runs in the UI layer for clarity and speed.

Note that after the release of Outlaws, fans appreciated the atmosphere of the mini-game, and some even recreated it in real life.

“The difficulties paid off when we saw the enthusiasm of the players,” said Shiroden.