EA's Star Wars Bet: A Renaissance or a Gamble?

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Is EA's Star Wars Gamble Paying Off?

When Lucasfilm Games bestowed the Star Wars license upon Electronic Arts in 2013, it appeared to be a major victory for the developer. However, the publisher has only released a handful of Star Wars games since then, and they have not been without their controversies.

Most recently, Electronic Arts announced the cancellation of a first-person shooter from Respawn, the studio behind the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, as well as the Titanfall series.

Nonetheless, the Star Wars gaming landscape is undergoing a renaissance, with numerous studios developing their own adventures set in the iconic galaxy far, far away. Here's a preview of what to expect:

Star Wars Outlaws: Breaking Away from the Jedi-Sith Dichotomy

Star Wars has long been associated with the Skywalker and Palpatine lineages, but Star Wars Outlaws seeks to expand the narrative horizons.

The game follows Kay Vess and her droid companion Nix as they embark on a daring heist in the Outer Rim. Set between "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," Outlaws is a third-person action title developed by the Ubisoft Massive team, responsible for Tom Clancy's The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Ubisoft enthusiasts will likely keep a keen eye on this project. While Ubisoft has yet to announce a release date, Outlaws is slated for release this year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.

Star Wars Hunters: Free-to-Play PvP Action

Star Wars Hunters is a free-to-play, player-versus-player title from Zynga. Players can select from a diverse roster of new Star Wars characters, including bounty hunters, stormtroopers, and rebel heroes, and engage in 4v4 arena battles.

The game does not have a specific release date but is scheduled for release this year on Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Untitled Star Wars Strategy Game: Tactical Warfare in the Star Wars Universe

Bit Reactor may not be a household name, but its team boasts impressive credentials. The studio was founded by former members of Firaxis Games, the creators of the Civilization and XCOM franchises. This pedigree suggests a high level of expertise in strategy game development.

Bit Reactor is collaborating with Respawn to bring this Star Wars title to life. Inspired primarily by turn-based games like XCOM, the game promises to introduce a strategic dimension to the swashbuckling Star Wars universe.

Bit Reactor has not yet revealed the game's title, platforms, or release window.

Star Wars Eclipse: A New Era of Storytelling

Star Wars Eclipse is an upcoming game set in the High Republic period, a relatively unexplored era of Star Wars history. Developed by Quantic Dream, the studio behind Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, Eclipse is expected to feature a narrative-driven experience with branching storylines and a focus on player decisions.

While Quantic Dream has released a teaser trailer, it has not provided any substantial gameplay details or information on release dates or platforms. Historically, Quantic Dream has been associated with PlayStation, but Star Wars games are typically not platform exclusives.

Knights of the Old Republic Remake: A Long-Awaited Return

The Knights of the Old Republic remake remains on this list primarily because it has not been officially canceled. Announced in 2021 as a timed exclusive for PlayStation 5, the remake was being developed by Aspyr Media.

However, Aspyr Media's parent company, Embracer Group, shifted the game to another studio, Saber Interactive, last year. Embracer Group recently announced the sale of Saber Interactive, including the Knights of the Old Republic remake.

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier has indicated that the remake is part of the Saber Interactive sale, but the game's future remains uncertain. While it has not been officially canceled, it is advisable to temper expectations.

Untitled Star Wars Jedi 3: Continuing the Cal Kestis Saga

After two critically acclaimed Star Wars Jedi titles, it is safe to assume that EA and Respawn are developing a third installment. While this has not been officially confirmed, actor Cameron Monaghan, who portrays protagonist Cal Kestis, has hinted at the game's existence.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released in late 2019, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was released in early 2023, indicating a relatively short development cycle for a well-received sequel. If a new Star Wars Jedi game is in the works, it is likely to be announced soon.

Untitled Star Wars Game from Skydance New Media: Uncharted Waters

Of all the games on this list, the untitled Star Wars game from Skydance New Media is shrouded in the most mystery. The game is being led by Amy Hennig, the director of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra game.

Hennig previously worked on a canceled Star Wars game for Electronic Arts codenamed Project Ragtag. Given her current involvement with the Marvel game, it is reasonable to expect that the Skydance New Media project is still in its early stages. The studio has not provided any details on the game's genre or release timeframe.

Edited by Andrew Hayward

Editor's Note: All of the games mentioned above are expected to be traditional "Web2" games without crypto or blockchain elements.