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It's Time for Star Wars to Return to a Neglected Genre

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Star Wars needs no introduction. As perhaps the most prominent science-fiction franchise of all time, George Lucas’ original films have spawned countless sequels, prequels, TV shows, multimedia experiences, and yes, video games. Disney’s approach to Star Wars games has been characterized by a willingness to license the IP to a number of different studios, which has allowed for a diverse range of releases over the years.

But so many of these games, at least those released in recent years, center on gameplay that prizes fast-paced action above all else. Whether it’s the parry-focused combat of the Star Wars Jedi duology or the objectives-based, large-scale multiplayer operations of the Battlefront series, real-time combat has become the most common way for developers to communicate the Star Wars fantasy. Even a game like Star Wars Outlaws, which involves a great deal of gameplay scenarios other than combat, still relies on open-world AAA conventions to tell its story and present unique interactive opportunities. There’s nothing wrong with any of these approaches, but there is definitely room for other kinds of experiences as well.

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Star Wars Ought To Dip Back Into Real-Time Strategy

It’s Been a While Since the Last Star Wars RTS

Star Wars games may gravitate toward blockbuster experiences today, but there was once a time when the IP played with a wider variety of genres. One such forgotten genre is real-time strategy, which formed the backbone of a number of cult classic Star Wars games, including:

  • Star Wars Rebellion
  • Star Wars: Force Commander
  • Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
  • Star Wars: Empire at War

All of the above games received varying receptions, naturally, but they tend to garner praise due to their unique simulations of intergalactic battles. Some of these battles, including many of those featured in Galactic Battlegrounds, are recreations of battles from the Star Wars films, while others are original and therefore offer greater flexibility. One thing that all of these games excel at is offering an unparalleled sense of grandiosity and intensity through these large-scale firefights, in a way that may not necessarily be better than what’s seen in something like Battlefront, but that is still fundamentally different. In other words, there are qualities to these epic sci-fi battles that simply can’t be captured outside the RTS genre.

The RTS Genre Has Come a Long Way, and Star Wars Could Capitalize On That

While video game executives have long been bearish about non-mainstream genres, reluctant to fund games that don’t adhere to market-tested qualities, reality demonstrates that commercial and critical success don’t necessarily hinge on genre recognition. In fact, games that step away from mainstream trends often gain traction with audiences, as they can offer experiences that many players find refreshing.

Sure, taking a risk and investing in a non-shooter or non-open-world genre doesn’t always pay off, but the same can be said about playing it safe. A prime example of this latter phenomenon would be Star Wars Outlaws, a game that should have checked every box for AAA success, but wound up landing to a lukewarm reception. Perhaps a shakeup is precisely what Star Wars needs in the wake of such projects, and with strategy-laden games like Baldur’s Gate 3 proving that there’s a market for long-forgotten game design trends. Considering the many unique heroes, factions, and locations central to the Star Wars mythos, a real-time strategy is arguably as good a fit for the IP as open-world adventure, and such a game could be a nice companion to the more action-oriented battles of the Battlefront franchise.

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