Ever since Star Wars hit the big screen, there have been no shortage of galactic adventures for fans to dive into. Not only have they been treated to a wide assortment of movies and TV shows, but the video game space has also seen countless tales in the galaxy far, far away. Over the years, those tales have only grown and evolved, with being one of the biggest innovations to date. While some may assume that is purely because of its open-world gameplay, Star Wars Outlaws might also have introduced players to a new type of Star Wars protagonist.

With Star Wars Outlaws, players once again step into the shoes of a human protagonist as they try to make their mark on the galaxy. What ensues is a pretty standard outlaw-focused affair, which serves as a refreshing change of pace from all the Jedi-focused adventures of the past. However, players are also introduced to the droid companion ND-5, who really is unlike anything Star Wars video games have seen lately. And now that Ubisoft has delved into the world of droids, a future title should go all in on the concept.

Pretty much every major Star Wars video game has put players in control of more humanoid protagonists. Titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi Knight have made them a Jedi, Star Wars Squadrons and Rogue Squadron have put them in the cockpit of a fighter, and so many games have let them experience the main Star Wars story through different lenses. While all of this has been great to see, the franchise has seldom delved into the world of droids.

Only a couple of major Star Wars video games have let players experience the life of a droid. The Star Wars Battlefront series has let players take on the role of Battle Droid, and the LEGO Star Wars titles have featured countless playable droid characters. However, none of them have really done what Star Wars Outlaws has done with ND-5. And now that players have spent much of their time working alongside a droid such as that, a future Star Wars game needs to fully deliver on that potential.

Throughout Star Wars Outlaws, ND-5 serves as a constant companion to Kay Vess. He is often giving her helpful hints, guiding her to her next objective, and assisting her at every turn. Throughout the game, the two of them grow closer together, with them becoming inseparable by the end of it all. That leads to a pretty fun and different type of story from Star Wars video games of the past, and there is so much potential for it to grow from here.

There just has not been a Star Wars game that has put a droid character front-and-center like Star Wars Outlaws has, which is a shame, as there are so many stories that could be told through that lens. The movies have been doing something similar for years with the likes of C-3PO, The Mandalorian's IG-11, and Rogue One's K-2SO. So, it seems only natural that a video game should follow suit. As long as the character has strong writing behind them, it could lead to something truly special.

As of now, it does not look like a future Star Wars game will be following in Star Wars Outlaws' footsteps. Additionally, since Outlaws ended up underperforming, players may never see the likes of ND-5 again. But hopefully, someone has plans for another droid protagonist in the future. Not just as a companion, but as the main character of a game, as that would be unlike anything players have seen before.