Nightdive Studios Announces ‘Outlaws’ Remaster for Nintendo Switch and Modern Platforms

Nightdive Studios and Atari have officially unveiled their plans to remaster LucasArts’ 1997 first-person shooter, Outlaws, along with its expansion, Handful of Missions.

This announcement was made during the Opening Night Live showcase at Gamescom, generating excitement among fans of classic PC shooters.

Renowned for its Wild West setting, memorable gunplay, and well-animated cutscenes, Outlaws originally struggled to capture mainstream attention due to its release proximity to genre-defining titles like Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II and Quake II.

Now, with a modern remaster targeting Nintendo Switch and other platforms, Nightdive Studios aims to introduce Outlaws to a new generation and satisfy longtime fans. The remaster, titled 'Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster,' is set for launch in Q4 2025 and will be available on Windows PC (via Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, and the Epic Game Store), PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and importantly, Nintendo Switch.

The updated release features enhanced 4K visuals at up to 120 FPS, modern gamepad support, and new achievements, bringing it in line with the expectations of today’s gamers while maintaining the adventurous spirit of the original. Journalists reached out to Stephen Shaw, one of the original game's lead designers, to gather his perspective on the project.

Shaw shared that he "was not previously aware" a remaster was in development and is not directly involved in the new version.

Nonetheless, he expressed contentment about the upcoming release, noting the game's persistent community engagement.

"I'm happy to see the game return, especially with the enthusiastic multiplayer community that's kept it alive all these years," Shaw shared.

He also voiced hope for the inclusion of graphics options that let players switch back to the original sprites—a nod to how other LucasArts remasters, such as the Monkey Island series, have handled visual updates. Delving into the original Outlaws' development, Shaw revealed that the team faced challenges in pitching a Western-themed FPS during an era when the genre’s popularity was uncertain.

He credited Daron Stinett, the other lead designer, for initiating the project as a hybrid between Dark Forces technology, SCUMM adventure game sensibilities, and Western themes.

Shaw’s affinity for Spaghetti Westerns shaped much of Outlaws’ narrative and characters.

He clarified that, aside from Stinett, the Dark Forces team moved on to work on Jedi Knight, creating a unique development path for Outlaws. Technically, while Outlaws leveraged the Jedi Engine previously used in Dark Forces, Shaw explained that the codebase had to be nearly entirely rewritten to support Outlaws’ features, including networked multiplayer.

Steve Ash contributed significantly by overhauling rendering and adding features like double adjoins and the sniper scope, while all gameplay logic was reconstructed in an object-oriented style tailored for online play.

This effort resulted in a codebase distinctly different from Dark Forces. At the time of release, the PC shooter market was rapidly transitioning to full 3D graphics, leading LucasArts to position Outlaws as its final "2.5D" title.

The remaster, therefore, represents a unique opportunity to showcase a pivotal piece of shooter history on contemporary platforms like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Nightdive Studios continues to bolster its reputation for high-quality remasters, and the Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is set to reignite interest in a classic LucasArts gem.

Stay tuned for updates ahead of its anticipated Q4 2025 release across all major storefronts, including the Nintendo Switch eShop.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Nightdive Studios Atari Switch LucasArts Outlaws Handful of Missions Stephen Shaw Daron Stinett Steve Ash Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II Quake II SCUMM Dark Forces Jedi Engine Full Throttle PlayStation Xbox Steam GOG Humble Bundle Epic Game Store