Star Wars Squadrons has been revealed by EA and Motive Studios as their next game with the IP, showing off a cinematic trailer following early leaks over the Microsoft Store.
Star Wars Squadrons takes place a few days before the Galactic Empire’s demise at the hands of Rebels between The Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. It also deals with the birth of The New Republic and the Empire’s struggle to survive post-Galactic Civil War. Players will be taking to the skies and stars as pilots in fast-paced dogfights against TIE fighters and X-Wings. The game’s premise, mechanics and title also call back to LucasArts’ past flight combat games with Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and its sequel which gained a cult following with players since the original game was released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64.
The new game’s trailer showed off cinematics from a narrative-driven single player portion, which sets the premise for two opposing teams of pilots fighting for the Galactic Empire and New Republic. It also suggested first-person space battles from the cockpit and support from characters such as Rebels star Hera Syndulla and Admiral Akbar, who made cameo appearances.
According to EA in a release, Star Wars Squadrons will also get to use their favourite starfighters across different skirmishes and plan out their assaults in a briefing room. The strategies would be executed in massive space battles with a team of five against enemy fleets. While its single player element adds new lore to the franchise’s canon, the multiplayer aspect is heavily geared as a 5v5 deathmatch with certain objectives to complete.
“Players will engage in strategic 5v5 multiplayer space battles with the goal of demolishing the opposing flagship in Fleet Battles and will feel the rush of first-person multiplayer combat as they work with their squadron to defeat as many opponents as possible in Dogfights,” EA wrote, adding their crafts and team can be customizable.
“Pilots will triumph as a team, adjusting the composition of their squadrons to suit their playstyles as they progress, crushing their opponents and completing objectives across known and never-before-seen locations, including the gas giant of Yavin Prime and the shattered moon of Galitan.”
EA also noted their multiplayer progression with give rewards, cosmetics and perks “earned solely through gameplay,” while their characters can also be customized online. Star Wars Squadrons will also support cross play with other platforms, including VR for PC players.
Players won’t have to wait long for Star Wars Squadrons when it takes off later this year on October 2, 2020 for PC, PS4, Xbox One and VR. Pre-orders are available now while more gameplay details are expected on EA’s Play Live event on June 18, 4:00PM PT (7:00PM EST).
