While history is full of Star Wars games, a new report suggests Disney is taking a more aggressive stance about the franchise's future release schedule in the video game space with the end of its licensing deal with Electronic Arts. Disney and Lucasfilm Games didn't appear to waste time after the deal came to an end, locking down multiple deals with some of the biggest names in gaming to produce their spins on the galaxy far, far away. If the report is true, players will be able to begin marking their calendars as new games will begin to release regularly.
The report comes from Insider Gaming, which claims to have "sources" familiar with this new aggressive strategy when it comes to Star Wars game releases. It is believed Disney is looking to release two new Star Wars games every fiscal year, with one every six months alternating between a major tent-pole release and "one smaller game." The report seemingly indicates Lucasfilm Games is on-board with this new strategy, which can already be seen in the number of games currently in development.
Insider Gaming goes on to say the eight announced games currently in development, including Jedi: Survivor from Respawn, Eclipse from Quantic Dream, and Amy Hennig's Star Wars game with Skydance, fall under this new strategy but remain several years out from release. Quantic Dream's game, in particular, was hinted as being a "development nightmare" for David Cage's studio, according to the outlet's sources and could be four years out from release. Knights of the Old Republic Remake has also been suffering from development problems forcing the game to be delayed and to change developers from Aspyr to Saber Interactive.
The report adds the listed games are the only known games, and it was indicated to Insider Gaming there may be several more unannounced games in development and pre-development. Given all the games listed in the report appear to be major releases, aside from Star Wars: Hunters, it would not be surprising if the unannounced games were the aforementioned smaller games Disney wants to alternate releases with, which Insider Gaming speculates could range from mobile games to titles akin to Star Wars: Squadron's size.
While neither Disney nor Lucasfilm Games have commented on the report as of this writing, it seems well within the entertainment giant's means to make it a reality between its own resources and the number of developers available to partner with. The universe is also vast enough that developers have plenty of room to explore, whether it is the High Republic Era, the period between Return of the Jedi and Force Awakens, or maybe another time players haven't seen yet under Disney's Star Wars.
Source: Insider Gaming