Lucasfilm Games has distributed Star Wars development across multiple studios following EA's exclusive licensing deal expiration, reshaping the franchise's gaming future. The shift opens space for diverse projects beyond EA's typical action-adventure formula.
Ubisoft is developing a open-world Star Wars game with creative leadership from the team behind Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon. This represents a significant departure from EA's approach, targeting expansive exploration and player agency. Meanwhile, Respawn Entertainment continues work on the next entry in the Jedi Survivor franchise, which maintains its single-player, narrative-driven DNA established by Fallen Order's critical success.
Quantic Dream, the studio behind Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, is crafting a separate title leveraging their interactive storytelling expertise. This pairing signals Lucasfilm's interest in branching beyond combat-focused experiences into narrative-heavy adventures. The French studio's decision-tree methodology could reshape how Star Wars games approach player choice and consequence.
Smaller teams also received development greenlight, though details remain sparse. These projects suggest Lucasfilm is cultivating a varied portfolio rather than betting everything on blockbuster tentpoles. The strategy reflects lessons from EA's mixed critical reception, particularly following the live-service failure of Star Wars: The Old Republic's decline.
Timeline clarity remains elusive. While some projects target 2026 releases, others lack firm dates. This staggered approach prevents market saturation while maintaining franchise momentum during Star Wars' theatrical lull between saga films and upcoming limited series.
The licensing shift represents the franchise's most significant gaming restructuring since 2013 when EA secured exclusive rights. That arrangement yielded Jedi Fallen Order's critical triumph but also the disastrous live-service launches of The Old Republic and Battlefront II's monetization scandal. Multiple publishers signal Lucasfilm's determination