With the impending release ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivor,Star Warsgaming is in one of the better spots it has been in over the last few years. Coming off the surprise success ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,Star Wars Jedi: Survivorlooks to give fans more of the first game’s brand of Soulslike, Metroidvania-inspired action in a galaxy far, far away. After all, developer Respawn has demonstrated what can come of a game that focuses purely on delivering a strong narrative experience.
WhileStar Wars Jedi: Survivormay seem like a vindication for EA’s shaky handling of the property, it also serves as the end of a tumultuous era forStar Warsgaming. EA’s ten-year exclusivity contract with the property will come to an end after 2023, meaning any developer will now be able to pursue aStar Warsgame. In truth, it’s now old news thatcompanies like Ubisoft have been developing newStar Warsgames, but many of them are nowhere close to releasing. This makesJedi: Survivorthe last game that EA will release under its contract, punctuating what has been an often difficult time for manyStar Warsfans.
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Lootboxes, Lawsuits, And A Lack Of Ambition: EA’s Time With The Star Wars Franchise
When EA signed its exclusivity contract withStar Warsin 2013, it was at a time when the franchise as a whole was undergoing dramatic change. Disney had just bought the property from creator George Lucas for an extraordinary amount of money, and the galaxy far, far away would now be going in a new creative direction. With that came the promise of new games led by EA, who already had a reputation among gamers for being one of the industry’s most divisive publishers. Amidstcanceled games likeStar Wars Battlefront 3, however, many fans were happy to be getting new triple-A games.
EA started its contract by somewhat resolving the despair of those looking forward toBattlefront 3by rebooting the series with 2015’sStar Wars Battlefront. While it lacked much depth, it was serviceable as a third-personStar Warsshooter, but everything would change with its sequel.2017’sStar Wars Battlefront 2included predatory microtransactions, a pay-to-win-encouraging progression system, and content that still failed to convey the scope of the franchise. EA was lambasted by much of the gaming community and received numerous lawsuits from global governments as a result.
In the years that followed, EA would release just two moreStar Warsgames while developer DICE expanded onBattlefront 2’s content.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwas a much-needed hit for the company, but while2020’sStar Wars Squadronsfeatured tight gameplay, its volume of content barely held a candle to theRogue Squadrongames of yesteryear.
The Future of Star Wars Games After Jedi: Survivor
With the release ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivorin April, EA will have made just five games over the course of its ten-year exclusivity contract. That amount may seem paltry to some, but the future ofStar Warsgaming looks to correct that in a big way. At least three majorStar Warsgames are confirmed to be in development from various companies, with Ubisoft’s open-worldStar Warsgame, Quantic Dream’sStar Wars Eclipse, and theKOTORremake. EA also has moreStar Warsgames of its own in the pipeline, with aStar Warsfirst-person shooter inspired by theDark Forcesgamesbeing among them.
Star Warsfans may have had to bear the many missteps of EA for a considerable amount of time, but the future of the franchise’s gaming pursuits appears to be rewarding that patience. Not only does it seemtheStar Wars: Jediseries could become a trilogy, but the impending end of EA’s contract looks to start an era ofStar Warsgaming as big as the galaxy itself. So as players dive back into the world of Cal Kestis and the rest of theStinger Mantiscrew, it should serve as a reminder that the best ofStar Warsgaming may very well be yet to come.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorreleases April 28 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
