It's impossible to overstate the popularity of Star Wars, with the franchise having millions of fans around the globe. It was quick to jump into the video game space, too, having since built up a catalogue of incredible games like Knights of the Old Republic. The universe of Star Wars offers near limitless potential for games from movie adaptations, original stories, and multiplayer offerings. Different kinds of fans will of course enjoy different kinds of Star Wars games, and it is starting to look like two of the next major releases for the franchise could offer something for all of those fans.
While Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 isn't officially announced yet, it could be on the horizon. EA is likely looking to go out with a bang now that the exclusive license to Star Wars games is gone, and the first game set a good precedent. The first Fallen Order has been lauded by many fans as the best single-player, narrative-driven Star Wars game since KOTOR 2, and naturally fans have high expectations about the sequel. On the other side of the coin is the unnamed Star Wars project coming from Ubisoft. Little is known about the game apart from it being an open-world title, but the possibilities of a Ubisoft Star Wars game are interesting.
What Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Could Bring to Fans
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took a linear direction with its game, managing to highlight story and character development in its narrative while also adapting a Soulslike gameplay loop. There was plenty of exploration for players to enjoy, but framed in a way similar to Bloodborne and Dark Souls where each area was itself fairly small. Players could slowly open more and more of each world as they acquired new abilities, but overall there was a direct path through its story. While Fallen Order 2 will likely feature new worlds, it's unlikely that the game will take huge steps away from that format.
That would likely be a good thing for the sequel, though, as fans really enjoyed the experience of Fallen Order. The high production value and strong writing behind the story of Cal Kestis in the first Fallen Order made the game feel incredibly cinematic while still being interspersed with challenging gameplay. This narrowed view of the story really scratched an itch after years of mostly multiplayer offerings. It helped to make the story feel more personal, and the new areas explored throughout the game felt like seeing the Star Wars universe through a new lens.
With this in mind, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 has some big boots to fill. That being said, it's a safe assumption that the game won't stray too far from the original's focused approach to gameplay and narrative. While some expansion will do the game well, like Fallen Order 2 possibly including more playable characters, the success of the original largely came form the specific niche it filled for many Star Wars fans. Luckily for fans of different kinds of Star Wars experiences, the unnamed Ubisoft project could be looking to embrace the exact opposite facets of the franchise.
What the Ubisoft Star Wars Game Could Bring to Fans
It's been confirmed that Ubisoft's Star Wars game will be an open-world offering, which really speaks to the other side of how to explore some of the best things about Star Wars. The galaxy far, far, away is appropriately massive. Exploring that universe in a free-form way could really embrace its scope. The idea of a game where players can freely travel from Coruscant to acquire a mission before blasting off into the Outer Rim has massive appeal to fans, and Ubisoft's open-world approach could fit Star Wars well.
Ubisoft is well-known for its larger sandbox games. Far Cry, Assassin's Creed, and the more recent Ghost Recon titles are good examples. It's worth noting that each of those series has certainly had its ups and downs, but Disney is trusting Ubisoft with Star Wars for a reason. While a cohesive story is important to any successful adventure in the Star Wars franchise, the open-world approach presents its own possibilities.
Movies like Rogue One and shows like Bad Batch have shown that a Star Wars outing doesn't need Jedi in order to succeed. If the Ubisoft game goes this route and focuses instead on a character like The Mandalorian, or even a custom character dropped into the universe, it could establish itself as the other side of the coin when it comes to Star Wars game. This would obviously require excellent execution to be successful. Every single inch of the game will be microscope examined against established canon, and the gameplay expectations alone will be very high. This isn't to say it's not possible, but Ubisoft has caught flak in the past from fans that feel some games were rushed. Still, it is likely that Ubisoft knows the pressure of creating in the Star Wars space and will rise to the occasion.
The open-world format could work so well for Star Wars, even with multiplayer components. There are many fans that will immediately recoil from the prospect, but if pulled off well it would be a great experience. This is another reason why Ubisoft might leave Jedi behind for its open-world game, as they wouldn't need them in the context of a multiplayer mode similar to GTA Online. Players being able to form a team of smugglers, pirates, or rogue troopers to tackle mercenary missions together could be incredibly rewarding. A multiplayer mode separate from the main game, once again similar to GTA, could serve the game well. Balancing the thrill of exploration with building up some kind of organization should be easy to make compelling within the Star Wars mythos.
Star Wars fans have a lot to be excited about in the future. Whether they like novels, films, streaming series, comics, or games, Star Wars has something for everyone on the way. While new Star Wars games are farther out, fans should still be excited. Jedi: Fallen Order 2 and the Ubisoft game should be bringing two distinct kinds of Star Wars experiences, which hopefully means there will be a game for any kind of fan.
An Ubisoft Star Wars game and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2 are in development.