It was a good weekend for Star Wars fans – kicked off by the Star Wars Celebration event, the first trailer for the ninth theatrical installment of the infamous space opera was formally released, along with its official title: Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. In addition to several more shows announced, which coincides with Disney’s launch of its own streaming service, Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment formally launched the trailer for their newest endeavor: Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order.
The trailer, which focuses solely on the story and not on gameplay, introduces Cal Kestis, a young padawan on the run from the fledgling empire. The story is set after the events of Revenge of the Sith¸ and focuses on Kal’s journey as he seeks to survive the implications of the Emperor’s Order 66, a call-to-order to purge the Jedi from the galaxy.
The trailer lasts for two and a half minutes and is voiced over by Cal himself. He finds himself distrustful of everything and everyone, keeping his head down due to his origins. An unlikely event forces him to reconnect with the very thing he has been trying to hide from: the Force.
It’s interesting to see how the game will play out, mainly because of how it’s being marketed. A few days before the trailer dropped, publisher EA tweeted out its commitment to making a single-player game free from any microtransactions or lootboxes. This move seems to stem from their handling of the previous Battlefront games, and how the Battlefront games' in-game economy was primarily fueled by the inclusion of arguably shoddy microtransactions.
No microtransactions. No loot boxes. And no, we won't be adding them. A single-player Star Wars story for those of you who are ready to become a Jedi. https://t.co/kTheWVBjJc
— EA Star Wars (@EAStarWars) April 13, 2019
Whether this is a bid to win back fans or this was their plan from the start, one thing is for certain: some people are remaining cautiously optimistic until gameplay footage drops, in particular due to the publisher’s track record.
The game’s developer, Respawn Entertainment, has revealed that gameplay focuses on lightsaber melees, one of the most fundamentally loved aspects of the Battlefront and Star Wars games in general. The game is also set on entirely new planets and worlds, and primarily features Imperial Inquisitors as its main antagonists.
Expect more news and details about Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order to drop as it nears its release, which has been announced for all platforms on November 15, 2019.
