You're zooming across the jagged wastes of Toshara, the wind whistling past Kay Vane’s ears, and suddenly it hits you. The bike feels... off. You’re pinning the stick forward, but the Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle doesn't seem to be giving you that punchy, cinematic velocity you saw in the trailers. It’s a common frustration. Players have been reporting that the speeder feels heavy or unresponsive, often leading to accidental crashes into a stray rock or a squad of annoyed Stormtroopers.
The reality is that Ubisoft Massive designed the speeder with a very specific physics model. It isn't a hovercar from a racing sim. It’s a junker. It’s a modified S-5ndspd Racing Speeder that’s been through the ringer.
Honestly, the way the game handles acceleration is a mix of RPG progression and actual hardware settings that most people overlook in the menus. If your throttle feels like it’s stuck in the mud, it’s probably not a bug. It’s a combination of how you’ve tuned your settings and how many credits you’ve dumped into the engine at a mechanic’s shop.
The Settings Menu Fix Nobody Tells You About
Before you go blaming the game's code, look at your controller. One of the biggest culprits behind a "broken" Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle is actually the trigger deadzone settings. If you’re playing on a PS5 or using an Xbox controller on PC, the game defaults to a specific pressure sensitivity for the R2/RT button.
Some players have found that their triggers aren't hitting 100% input because of wear and tear on the hardware or just weird calibration in the game’s software. You can actually go into the "Controls" menu and adjust the throttle response. Turn down the trigger deadzone. Suddenly, that slight press actually registers as full gas. It makes a world of difference when you're trying to outrun a Syndicate hit squad.
There’s also an accessibility toggle for "Hold to Accelerate." If your finger is getting tired, switching this to a toggle can help, though most purists prefer the analog control of a trigger. But hey, if it stops you from losing a high-speed chase because your finger slipped, use it.
Why Your Speed Is Capped Early On
You can't expect a masterpiece of engineering right out of the gate. When you first get the speeder on Toshara, it’s basic. Really basic. You’ll notice the Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle feels limited because, well, the engine sucks.
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To actually feel the speed, you have to visit mechanics in major hubs like Mirogana or Wayfar. There are three main tiers of engine upgrades:
- The standard Ion Engine upgrade provides a flat increase to top speed.
- The Speed Boost (unlocked via The Mechanic expert quest) adds a manual "NOS" style cooldown.
- Handling upgrades don't affect the throttle directly, but they stop the "drift" that makes the throttle feel unresponsive during turns.
If you haven't finished the quest for Selo Rovak (The Mechanic), you’re playing with one hand tied behind your back. She’s the Expert who unlocks the Boost ability. Without that boost, the throttle just feels like a steady, boring drone. Once you have it, you can hit the prompt (usually X on PlayStation or A on Xbox) to lunge forward.
Understanding the Physics of the S-5ndspd
The speeder isn't flying. It’s hovering just a few feet off the ground using repulsorlift technology. This means terrain matters. If you’re trying to maintain a high Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle input while going uphill or over water, you’re going to lose momentum.
I’ve noticed a lot of players try to steer and gas it at the same time like it's Grand Theft Auto. It doesn't work that way. In Outlaws, the speeder has "weight." If you yank the stick to the side while holding the throttle wide open, you’ll wide-arc into a wall. To master the throttle, you have to learn to "feather" it. Let off the gas, turn, then punch the boost.
Expert Tips for Maximum Velocity
Let's talk about the "Expert" system. Unlike traditional skill trees, Star Wars Outlaws ties your speeder’s performance to people you meet in the world.
Selo Rovak is your best friend here. Her quest is available relatively early on Toshara. Once you complete it, you get the "Speed Boost." But it doesn't stop there. You can eventually unlock "Jump," which allows you to maintain throttle over gaps. There’s also the "Speeder Skid," which is essentially a drift.
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If you’re wondering why the Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle feels better in some clips than in your game, it’s likely because that player has unlocked the "Top Speed" perk from the Veteran Expert. This is a late-game unlock that significantly raises the ceiling of how fast the repulsors can push you.
Terrain Matters More Than You Think
Toshara is windy and rocky. Kijimi is snowy and slick. Tatooine is... well, it’s Tatooine. Sand everywhere.
Each planet has a different friction coefficient. You’ll find that the throttle response on the salt flats of Toshara feels crisp and responsive. Try that same throttle input in the deep sands near Mos Eisley, and you'll feel the drag. This isn't a glitch; it's the game's engine simulating the drag of the environment on the repulsorlifts. To counter this, you need to look for "speed strips" or flatter paths carved into the landscape.
Troubleshooting Persistent Throttle Issues
Sometimes, the Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle actually is acting up. There have been reports of a bug where Kay gets stuck in "combat speed" even after the enemies are gone. Combat speed is significantly slower to allow for better aiming with the Ion Blaster.
If you feel like you’re crawling and there’s no red on your radar, try getting off the bike and getting back on. It sounds stupidly simple, but it resets the state of the vehicle. Also, check if you’ve accidentally toggled the "Walk" speed if you're playing on PC with a keyboard. Keyboard players have a harder time with the throttle because keys are binary—either 0% or 100%. If you're on PC, I highly recommend plugging in a controller just for the speeder sections. The analog triggers allow for a nuance that a mechanical keyboard just can't replicate.
Upgrading the Right Parts
Don't just spend your credits on cosmetics. While that red paint job looks cool, it does nothing for your 0-60 time. Focus on these specific components:
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- Repulsorlift Tiers: These allow you to glide over deeper water and rougher terrain without losing throttle momentum.
- Fuel Injectors: These reduce the cooldown on your boost. A shorter cooldown means more time at max velocity.
- Engine Cooling: This allows you to stay at top speed longer before the "overheat" mechanic kicks in (mostly relevant during high-intensity chases).
It’s easy to get distracted by the blaster upgrades or Kay’s outfits, but the speeder is your primary mode of traversal for 70% of the game. Neglecting the engine is the number one reason players complain about the game feeling slow.
The Stealth Aspect of Throttle Management
Believe it or not, you shouldn't always have the Star Wars Outlaws speeder throttle pinned to the max. The louder your engine, the easier it is for Imperial patrols to spot you.
If you see a yellow detection meter starting to fill up, let off the throttle. Coasting reduces your acoustic profile. It’s a subtle mechanic that the game doesn't explicitly tutorialize well, but it’s there. You can "sneak" past outposts by managing your throttle input and keeping your RPMs low. It adds a layer of strategy to the exploration that goes beyond just "go fast."
Actionable Steps to Master Your Speeder
Stop settling for a slow bike. If you want to actually enjoy the traversal in Star Wars Outlaws, follow these specific steps right now:
- Check Deadzones: Go into your settings and drop your trigger deadzones to 5. Test the response. You’ll likely feel an immediate difference in how quickly the bike takes off.
- Hunt Selo Rovak: If you’re still on Toshara, stop doing main quests and find The Mechanic. You need that boost. It changes the entire flow of the game.
- Invest in the Repulsorlift: Prioritize the repulsor upgrades over the engine at first. Staying at a consistent speed over bumps is better than having a high top speed that resets every time you hit a pebble.
- Use the Drift: Practice the Speeder Skid. By holding the brake and then slamming the throttle out of a turn, you maintain much more kinetic energy than if you just tried to steer normally.
- Watch the Terrain: Stay on the paths when possible. The game rewards you for following the "natural" roads with much higher throttle efficiency.
The speeder in Star Wars Outlaws is a character in its own right. It’s finicky, it’s loud, and it requires a bit of love to get it running right. Once you've tuned the settings and grabbed the right upgrades, that sluggish feeling will disappear, replaced by the high-octane smuggling experience the game promises. Get to a mechanic, tweak those triggers, and stop letting the Empire catch up to you.