According to a report from Insider Gaming, Disney wants to ramp up its number of Star Wars annual game releases by launching a new Star Wars game every six months.
The advent of the three prequel movies should have propelled Star Wars into mainstream, Marvel-style overkill but instead lukewarm fan and critical reception for the new movies and confused Star Wars rights-holding kept no-brainer smash hit video games from ever reaching development.
Now Star Wars owners, Disney, who paid a seemingly-bargainous $4 billion for Lucasfilm back in 2012 would appear to be ‘doing a Marvel’ and finally getting serious with the property in their clutches. Reports state that Disney now plan to release one AAA title and another smaller-scale game every year.
Where are all the Star Wars games?
Back in 2013 EA struck a 10-year deal with Disney to develop Star Wars games which saw the release of two Battlefront titles, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, with a few mobile titles. However, the rate of output (and quality) never particularly peaked and numerous plans for further games were cancelled, as – like the films – fan apathy and licence-holder in-fighting shrouded any new title’s clear path to glory,.
However, as EA’s cautious contract expiration date looms near, the right to develop Star Wars games is about to be thrown open once more and, it seems, Disney finally plans to cut loose and use its force…
Below are some of the Star Wars projects currently announced as being ‘in development’:
• Knights of the Old Republic – Remake by Saber Interactive.
• Star Wars: Hunters by Zynga.
• Jedi: Survivor by Respawn Entertainment.
• Untitled FPS by Respawn Entertainment.
• Untitled Strategy Game by Respawn Entertainment.
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – Galactic Edition by TT Games.
• Star Wars: Eclipse by Quantic Dream.
• Untitled Open World Game by Ubisoft Massive.
• Amy Hennig’s Untitled Star Wars Game by Skydance Media.
• Rumoured Star Wars: Madalorian-based game
Considering how all of the above projects are coming from video game developers outside of EA’s world, it’s obvious that Lucasfilm has ended Star Wars exclusive ties with Electronic Arts.
We’re hoping the new plan meets great success… But isn’t perhaps off to a good stars as Star Wars: Hunters from Zynga was originally scheduled to launch this year but was delayed to 2023.
Daniel Griffiths is a veteran journalist who has worked on some of the world's biggest entertainment, home and tech media brands. He's reviewed all the greats, interviewed countless big names, and reported on thousands of releases in the fields of video games, music, movies, tech, gadgets, home improvement, self build, interiors, garden design and more. He’s the ex-Editor of PSM3, GamesMaster, Future Music and ex-Group Editor-in-Chief of Electronic Musician, Guitarist, Guitar World, Computer Music and more. He renovates property and writes fun things for great websites.
