The plan for three newStar Warsgames to be developed by Respawn Entertainment means fans should have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. Respawn’sStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderis already beloved by fans, and many are waiting to see content from a sequel. While that’s likely a ways away, the announcement of other games in development means a lot of speculation can begin about the upcomingStar WarsFPS title and a strategy game. The plans for aStar WarsFPS in particular should attract a lot of curiosity given the hero format thatStar Wars Huntershas tapped into, and the success of Respawn’sApex Legends.
If the hero-shooter format is something that Respawn uses for itsStar WarsFPS title, it’s likely to take a step away from the gameplay shown forStar Wars Hunters. This would be great for the title and allow it to be molded into a game that’s built off of the studio’s strengths when it comes to combat and gameplay. TheTitanfallseries andApex Legendsboth have a solid fanbase thanks to their rewarding combat in a sea of FPS games that don’t always feel far removed from one another, which should benefit the newStar WarsFPS title compared to prior attempts.
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A Star Wars Hero-Shooter
UsingApex Legendsas a reference point, a dedicatedStar Warshero-shooter could do a lot that helps it stand out from theBattlefrontseries. A battle royale title feels feasible given the history of gladiatorial combat and bounty hunters in the galaxy, but it might not be the most efficient way to introduce a newStar Warsshooter. While it could take advantage of characters like Boba Fett, Din Djarin fromThe Mandalorian, and Cad Bane, it might also struggle to stand on its own if players come to view it as aStar Warsre-skin ofApex Legends.
By taking a more refined approach, a hero-shooter could have a lot to offer that stands out amidthe upcomingStar Warsgame projects. The large-scale combat of theBattlefrontseries can be incredible, but limiting team sizes to a smaller number of players could combat a sense of being overwhelmed while benefiting a hero-shooter approach. Injecting strict objective-based game modes would mean that a team aspect could remain, with players having to choose characters based on how they complement one another.
Hero-focused gameplay with smaller teams would also allow players to flex some of their favoriteStar Warscharacters rather than the more traditional modes used in theBattlefrontseries. This would fall more in line with shooters likeOverwatchandValorant,but using decades of characters thatStar Warsalready has at its disposal. With the varied abilities of different characters, there would be nothing that inherently limits which favorites could appear.
Force healing has become more prominent inStar Warsmedia, but is still a skill that not every Jedi uses. While Rey and Grogu have both used it, it’s not seen among classic Jedi offerings, creating distinctions between newer Jedi and others such as Mace Windu. Similarly, the skills and tools used by the galaxy’s most infamous bounty hunters vary wildly. While their overall mobility would be key to their characters, the diverse nature of bounty hunters means gameplay would be unique between each of them, even if there’s a surplus of characters likeFennec Shandand Bossk to choose from.
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Smaller Maps and Teams
Adjusting map size alongside player count could also be a great way to helpRespawn’s newStar WarsFPSmake a strong first impression. TheBattlefrontseries has long been what manyStar Warsfans look to when they think about the franchise as a shooter, but that doesn’t mean different approaches aren’t possible. Scaling things down in a way that focuses on smaller teams and maps could feel a lot better than just a new spin on whatBattlefronthas already done.
Even if there’snoBattlefront3on the way, a newStar WarsFPS could focus on teams that don’t get bigger than five or six. With smaller teams and maps, balancing could focus around gameplay that has players battling solo or in small team fights. A way to look at this is through the firefights that happen in games likeRainbow Six Siege,where rounds can be decided by a play or two instead of in large, drawn-out battles.
Through this approach, character or class builds could also have more prominence. A greater impact could be felt based on what skills are being used, and maneuvering through smaller map spaces means being able to guess an opponent’s next move more readily. While smaller teams and maps might be a hard sell for some, it could build on the memories that fans have ofLegends-eraStar Warsgames.
Titles likeStar Wars: Republic Commandostand out to this day because they took an approach that players saw as unique. While copying and pastingRepublic Commandoisn’t an avenue that will work, using its smaller interactions and squads for inspiration could help Respawn’sStar WarsFPS take a new approach. Both from a multiplayer and storytelling perspective, an FPS that’s scaled-down could be more intimate and challenging, while offering something that fans may be missing fromStar Warsgames at the moment.
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