Star Wars games are getting more and more commonplace nowadays. Whether they're telling new stories such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order or revisiting old franchises like Star Wars Battlefront, lots of studios are getting in on the current excitement around Star Wars. Against the odds, even Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has staged a comeback, now that Lucasfilm and Aspyr have remastered the 2008 classic for the Nintendo Switch. Fans of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed can now relive Starkiller's story, complete with motion controls adapted from the Wii.
The Force Unleashed remaster is exciting, but it inevitably raises questions about the future of the franchise. The Force Unleashed 3 hasn't shown any clear signs of life in recent years, and Disney's restructuring of Star Wars canon in the last decade has pushed Starkiller's story into non-canonical territory. In spite of all these past obstacles, though, the time has never been better for The Force Unleashed 3 to finally get made. From the need for closure on Starkiller's fate to the wealth of new Star Wars lore that it could feature, there are plenty of reasons for The Force Unleashed 3 to get another chance.
Redeeming The Force Unleashed
Although the original Force Unleashed is a classic in the eyes of many Star Wars fans, The Force Unleashed 2 left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Its gameplay didn't quite live up to the excitement of the first Force Unleashed, and the short story didn't resonate with fans or critics in the same way as the strong story from the first game. Due to this mixed reception, The Force Unleashed 2 doesn't reflect all too positively on the overarching franchise. It also doesn't help that The Force Unleashed 2 ends on a major cliffhanger that never got answered after LucasArts' closure got The Force Unleashed 3 canceled.
The complicated legacy of The Force Unleashed 2 makes a strong case for a third game in the series. Star Wars fans would love to see the IP make a rebound, even if it's many years overdue; a high-quality game that makes up for the lackluster combat and writing of Force Unleashed 2 could restore the franchise's overall reputation. Fans may still hold warm memories of the first Force Unleashed, but it would be nice if fans could praise The Force Unleashed 2 for successfully serving as a gateway to a third game, despite its various flaws.
Star Wars Lore Has Grown
Disney's acquisition of the Star Wars IP may have gotten The Force Unleashed 3 canceled once before, but it could actually provide good cause for a third game now. Under Disney's direction, Star Wars lore has grown dramatically. The origins of the Rebellion have been rewritten in major detail, Mandalorians have gotten even more visibility than they had in Force Unleashed's time, and the machinations of the Empire are more fleshed out than ever before. Star Wars has really blossomed thanks to Disney, even though several promising Star Wars projects had to be canceled to make that happen.
The Force Unleashed 3 would be a great game to make now because of all the other Star Wars lore that's cropping up lately. Force Unleashed may be non-canonical, but its story could still allow a developer to tell stories about an alternate timeline for Star Wars canon. For instance, it would be interesting to see how fan favorite Ahsoka Tano factors into the Force Unleashed universe, or what the protagonists of Star Wars: Rebels are up to in a world with a different Rebellion. These characters and many more could inspire an excellent Force Unleashed 3 that blends new Star Wars canon with a highly distinct setting.
A New Generation of Star Wars Games
Of course, the remaster of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is also a very important reason that the time is right for Force Unleashed 3. The game's arrival on the Switch means that lots of younger Star Wars fans who never got to play Force Unleashed in its heyday are likely newly interested in this franchise, meaning there's a growing market for Force Unleashed 3. What's more, the Force Unleashed remaster's mixed reviews are actually a good reason for a third game too. The franchise is certainly showing its age in the remaster, but that just means that it's time for a developer to bring Star Wars: The Force Unleashed up to date in an innovative new game.
Beyond Force Unleashed's newfound relevance, the broader rising tide of Star Wars titles means the time is right for another Force Unleashed title as well. Tons of different Star Wars games are in the making right now; Ubisoft has plans for an open world Star Wars title, Aspyr is remaking Knights of the Old Republic, and Respawn has no less than three Star Wars projects on the market. While this may make it seem like the market is too highly populated for Force Unleashed to enter, the contrary may be true. Star Wars hype looks like it'll remain high for the next several years, and Force Unleashed's unique story gives it the necessary tools to compete with other games.
Force Unleashed 3's Prospects
All things considered, The Force Unleashed 3 seems like it could be a great addition to the current Star Wars game lineup, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem all too likely that it's going to rear its head. The Force Unleashed may simply be too gritty for Disney's liking, as well as too contradictory to Star Wars canon to revisit. In that way, The Force Unleashed admittedly has a significant disadvantage compared to newer, more canon-friendly games such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Nevertheless, the broader context of Star Wars media and The Force Unleashed's overall journey make a strong case for a third game. The Force Unleashed may no longer have a place in the official Star Wars story, but it's still interesting to experiment with alternate takes on the Star Wars world. After all, that's what Star Wars: Visions and other non-canon projects have already accomplished in recent years. Regardless of its complicated legacy and canon issues, The Force Unleashed deserves a second chance. The Force Unleashed 3 may be all that's needed to restore the franchise to its former glory.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is available now on Nintendo Switch.