TheStar Warsgaming license has been in a very weird place for a long time. The EA exclusivity deal that started all the way back in 2013 hasn’t exactly gone as planned for the company. Frommicrotransaction controversies, to general disappointment in how few games have been released, EA hasn’t exactly been in the best favor of a lot ofStar Warsfans. With all of the disappointment, however,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderhas been the one release where many fans and critics alike think EA finally did something right.
Unfortunately for EA, the good faith that it’s begun to build withStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderis about to be challenged. Earlier this year, it was announced that Lucasfilm Games would be reforming, and that Ubisoft would develop a new open-worldStar Warsgame. Although it’s likely that this game won’t come out until after EA’s exclusivity deal ends, it still has big implications for the future ofStar Warsgaming. EA’s relationship with theStar Warslicense is now hanging in the balance, and the rumoredStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order2could be a make or break release for the company.
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Making Up For Past EA Mistakes
EA’s time with theStar Warslicense has been marked by a series of controversies. The most damaging of these controversies came withthe release ofStar Wars Battlefront 2, when players quickly found out that progression was heavily supported by a pay-to-win microtransaction structure. This caused severe backlash from much of theStar Warscommunity, and the gaming community at large. The mechanic was so controversial, it even brought on a mass investigation of the gambling implications of loot boxes by several world governments, all with EA at the center.
The team at DICE eventually reworkedBattlefront 2’s progression system, but it severely pushed back DLC and put a dark mark on the game and EA as a whole. Learning from this mistake, EA kept microtransactions out ofJedi: Fallen Order, and it was much better off for it. The opportunity certainly could have presented itself too, considering other singleplayergames likeAssassin’s Creedhave begun to include microtransactionsin recent installments. EA would still be wise to avoid including them inFallen Order 2however, as any microtransactions would just be seen as predatory by fans that have been burned before.
Sticking The Landing With Jedi: Fallen Order 2
One ofthe biggest strengths ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwas the original story that it crafted, with a respectable list of original characters. Perhaps the biggest complaint of EA’s time with the license was the serious lack of any story-based content, as the focus was clearly placed on more profit-attractive multiplayer titles from the start.Jedi: Fallen Orderwas a major deviation from this, and it proved to be a successful move. Although it was a much smaller story than otherStar Warsproductions, the fact that fans are clamoring for a sequel shows that it laid a solid foundation.
As successful asJedi: Fallen Orderwas, its success has set up a number ofexpectations forFallen Order 2. Few things are worse in gaming than getting a stellar first release in a series, and then it turns out the sequel is disappointing and loses the spirit of the first game. If this were to happen withJedi: Fallen Order 2, it would likely bring EA’s reputation with the franchise back to square one. With how well the first game set up a sequel, there are few reasons whyFallen Order2shouldn’t be just as successful as the first. It will just be a matter of EA avoiding any questionable practices in an attempt to capitalize on the sequel’s hype.
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New Developers In The Star Wars Galaxy
The success ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2won’t just determine whether or not EA maintains the favor ofStar Warsfans, but it could also determine whether or not EA is given a chance to make moreStar Warsgames in the future. The fact thatUbisoft already has a newStar Warsgame in developmentbefore EA’s deal is over gives some indication that Disney has been ready to move on from the company. Especially after all of the controversies that have surrounded theStar Warsgaming license, few could blame Disney from wanting to revitalize the brand with a new company.
With Ubisoft making its own game, and EA’s deal coming to an end relatively soon, a lot more companies are suddenly going to be able to make their ownStar Warstitle.EA is going to be faced with some stiff competitionfor the first time in a decade, andStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2will essentially be an audition to determine whether or not EA will get more chances with theStar Warslicense. If the sequel turns out to be a massive disappointment, which hopefully it won’t be, the people at Disney and Lucasfilm Games probably won’t be in a rush to give EA another shot.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2is one of the most highly-anticipatedStar Warstitles in a very long time. The success of the first game was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one, and now that EA isn’t going to be the onlyStar Warsgame producer it suddenly puts a lot of pressure on the sequel. If EA manages to end its exclusivity strong with the game, it would do wonders to keep EA’s reputation withStar Warsfans intact, and ensure fans continue to get great games likeFallen Order.Until the sequel becomes official and more details come out, fans will just have to hope for the best withStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2has not been confirmed to be in development.
