EA's long-rumored Star Wars: Project Maverick was finally revealed to be Star Wars: Squadrons earlier this month. The game's official reveal trailer released prior to the EA Play event on June 18, but an interview put out with Creative Director Ian Frazier to coincide with EA Play elaborates on exactly when Squadrons takes place in the Star Wars' canon for hardcore fans who may be curious.
Frazier told Polygon that the prologue for the first-person flight combat simulator game takes place immediately after the destruction of Alderaan by the Death Star in Episode 4: A New Hope. The character that players create, at that point part of the Rebellion, becomes a member of the New Republic during the majority of the game, which occurs months after the defeat of Emperor Palpatine during the Battle of Endor in Episode 6: Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: Squadrons takes place before the Battle of Jakku depicted in various Star Wars novels and a DLC mission in EA's Star Wars Battlefront according to Frazier, which in-turn sets up Rey's homeworld for Episode 7: The Force Awakens. The creative director said, "You're seeing one of the military campaigns" that convinces the New Republic they can take a decisive victory against the Empire. Other pieces of Star Wars media, such as the cartoon Rebels, also play a role in the story.
However, Frazier told Polygon that players should only need to watch the original trilogy to have fun with moments that play off of "familiarity with the movies," and that extra content such as 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will "ground" the game and keep players familiar with ships like the U-Wing. Ultimately, players can decide to forego the story in its entirety once they've completed the prologue if they would prefer to jump into PvP combat instead.
The interview also discusses a number of different aspects of Star Wars: Squadrons, including the development of the game's flight models, controls, and other mechanical systems. Deep-cut Star Wars fans should appreciate how well-engrained the game is in its franchise's overall lore, however.
For those who are more interested in gameplay than story and lore, EA revealed official gameplay at EA Play, complete with crisp, iconic sound design and aesthetics. Together, that should help prospective fans decide whether or not they will be interested in jumping into this new Star Wars game when it comes out later this year.
Star Wars: Squadrons is set to release October 2 on PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Source: Polygon