While the Star Wars franchise has seen its share of strong titles - particularly in the realm of space combat - like any IP, it has also had its share of flops. It never feels good to hear about the passing of an up-and-coming title, but sometimes it can't be avoided. With that in mind, one of the more recent additions to the Star Wars universe has been officially cancelled: Star Wars: Attack Squadrons.

Deviating from what's normally expected from a Star Wars title, Attack Squadrons brought the franchise into the realm of browser-based online space combat. As one might expect, the product looked to be one of the franchise's weaker offerings but with a beta approaching, there was still a glimmer of hope for the title. Yet with the closed beta behind it, LucasArts and Disney Interactive have decided to close the curtain on this would-be space fighter.

The developers at Area 52 Games made the announcement via their official site, with a brief comment:

"We want to thank all of the fans who participated in the closed beta of Star Wars: Attack Squadrons. After much consideration, we have decided to cease development so that we can focus on other Star Wars game experiences. We truly appreciate the time you spent engaging in the beta."

With the news now broken, those who took part in and enjoyed the beta will surely feel the sting. Those without an investment in the browser-based game will be more interested in the silver lining of the announcement. With the cancellation of Attack Squadrons, the team will be focusing their efforts elsewhere in the Star Wars gaming universe, with the most obvious (and so, far, only revealed) option being Star Wars: Battlefront.

As much as it hurts to see hard working developers and publishers lose out on crafting a game in a beloved universe, the prospect that they may find themselves diverted to Battlefront or one of EA's rumored Star Wars titles for E3 is a positive one. The franchise has made a long - and sometimes rocky - journey from its humble beginnings, but with a new film trilogy on the horizon and multiple games in the works, it's clear that the universe that George Lucas built isn't ready to slow down yet.

What title do you think the team behind Star Wars: Attack Squadrons is moving onto? Do you feel that this cancellation came too quickly, or was it fated to happen?

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Follow Ryan on Twitter @ThatRyanB.

Sources: Area 52