EA Play is currently scheduled to take place on July 22 at 10am PT/12pm CT, but it seems the publisher is more concerned about managing expectations than it is building hype. For example, BioWare confirmed it wouldn’t have a presence at the show, so fans knownot to expectDragon AgeorMass Effectnews there. And EA recently made a big announcement that nixed any possibleStar Warsgame likeJedi: Fallen Orderfrom being there too, yet still going further than just that. As it stands, the only real confirmations ahead of EA Play areApex LegendsandBattlefield 2042.
There’s obviously going to be more than that, but what exactly remains a big question. However, that event is just one day out of the rest of the year, which EA shot down forStar Warsfans too. In its announcement, it said that it wouldn’t show off its vision for a galaxy far, far away until next year, meaningStar Warsgames aren’t going to have a strong presence in 2021. Truly, as it stands, this means that fans will likely only getLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagain 2021,which isn’t even made by EA.
RELATED:EA Won’t Announce Any New Star Wars Games Until 2022
Jedi: Fallen Order 2 was EA’s Ace Up Its Sleeve…
Suffice to say, many aren’t happy withhow EA has handled itsStar Warscontractfor the most part. Instead of a constant influx of strong games across a variety of genres, there’s been a handful.Battlefront 2is still synonymous with its microtransaction controversy, even if the game has moved on and become a strongStar Warsgame in its own right. The problem is the lack of strong, original content, as manyStar Warsgames could be floating around out there. Fans have asked for and begged for aBattlefront 3that expands beyond the second game’s scope, with a stronger, original campaign. Rumors of aKotorremake have reared their head yet again, and other releases likeStar Wars Squadronswould certainly be welcome. But those titles are about it.
The problem is thatJedi: Fallen Orderis the most unique release in the franchise in recent years. Love it or hate it, it had a strong combat approach, it told a story that connected new and old, and it introduced elements that fit properly in theStar Warsmythos. A sequel, featuringthe return of Cal Kestisor anyone else, is EA’s ace because it is a follow-up to the most original property to come out of aStar Warsgame in so long, and it could go in any direction based on that.
It’s not confirmed to be in development, but it’s one of those games where a sequel just makes sense. EA and Respawn are likely working on one, yet it’s not likely far enough to show off. Ergo, EA may have decidedJedi: Fallen Order 2should skip EA Play, but this is a double-edged sword. EA may not have won fans if it showed a teaser trailer forJedi: Fallen Order 2and nothing else, as there is such thing as showing something too early, but it would have kept eyes on itsStar Warsgames.Elden Ringkept eyes on it, despite going quiet for so long after its initial teaser as a point of comparison. It may not have gone the same but something is better than nothing right now.
RELATED:Is The Rumored Mandalorian Game the Upcoming Ubisoft Game
But the EA Star Wars Contract Needs to Go Out With a Bang
As many fans know, EA’s exclusivity contract withStar Warsis going to expired in just a couple of years. Once it does, the potential for a ton of newStar Warsgames explode. Fan already know Ubisoft Massive is working on a story-based, open-world game that might just apply Ubi’s strengths to the franchise. However, Ubisoft is unlikely to be the only company working on a game, as with no exclusivity contract,Lucasfilm Games might look at a bunch ofStar Warspitches. A flood of Star Wars games of lesser quality isn’t the answer obviously, but metered out correctly, Lucasfilm Games could create a steady flow of solid Star Wars games year after year.
After all, EA will still be making games in this period too. It just won’t have the franchise all to itself. That meansBattlefront 3,aKotorremake, or any number of EAStar Warsgames are still possible, but they’re going to be just one fish in a sea. Until the contract expires, though, EA is the only one in that sea. So, it would make sense for EA to end it strongly, to keep eyes on its games, and to move into the more fish-filled sea in a stronger position than potential competitors.
Again, perhaps EA didn’t make the most of itsStar Warscontract, and in the end, it’s likely good for the future ofStar Warsgames. Yet, while EA has the next two years or so to itself, it makes sense to push its vision ofStar Wars. AnEA Play teaser ofJedi: Fallen Order 2could have kept the discussion going through the rest of the year; instead, it seems that 2021 will be quiet, 2022 may see some announcements, and then the contract will end. Perhaps EA has something else up its sleeves, but if it can’t matchJedi: Fallen Order 2in terms of originality, it may get lost in the forthcoming influx.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2is rumored to be in development.
