Following two critically acclaimed Titanfall games and the extremely popular battle royale title Apex Legends, developer Respawn Entertainment is taking on the Star Wars series with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It will be far removed from the studio’s previous work, but it has the potential to reignite fans’ passion for Star Wars video games after the disappointing Star Wars Battlefront II. Here is everything we know about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order including the reveal, gameplay, characters, and release date.
Trailer
The first official trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was released during Star Wars Celebration in April 2019, and gave us our first look at the characters and setting of the game. It will take place after the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which saw the majority of Jedi killed as Palpatine created the Galactic Empire.
In the trailer, protagonist Cal Kestis explains that there are “three rules to survive” in a post-Order-66 world: “Don’t stand out,” “accept the past,” and “trust no one.” While sitting at a bar, he looks over his shoulder to find a stormtrooper staring in his direction. He also finds a device with a recording from Emperor Palpatine, who gave the order to destroy the Jedi.
Exactly what sets Cal’s journey in motion remains unclear, but the trailer shows the Padawan dodging blaster fire and leaping across a huge chasm as if he were Nathan Drake. He also faces off against an enemy who is using a dual-sided staff, and manages to hold his own without a lightsaber — he will get one, however, as we see in the trailer’s final moments.
Gameplay
The first gameplay of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was revealed during EA Play 2019. The game will be melee-combat focused, with plenty of platforming and even some puzzle-solving sections.
The demonstration show during the event was set on the planet Kashyyyk, which is the Wookies’ home planet. Taken over by the Empire, the Wookies have been enslaved and protagonist Cal has arrived to save them. Using grapples and Titanfall-style wall runs, Cal is able to quickly traverse platforms, and when he goes up against enemies he is able to make use of slashes, stabs, blocks, and dodges. Of course, he also has plenty of force moves, as he slows or stops time, pulls enemies close, and throws them toward other enemies. There also appear to be finishing moves if you attack in certain ways.
Though Cal is not a full Jedi yet, he appears to be in control of his abilities. He can deflect blaster fire back at enemies, and because the game is story-focused and not particularly choice-based, you will not be able to use dark side abilities.
Cal’s droid partner BD-1 can be used to hack into certain control panels, and at one point it changes the environment so that he can progress. He is typically located on Cal’s back, making the characteristic droid beeping noises.
Alongside stormtroopers and droids, there will also be beasts to defeat. These include large spider monsters that will actually engage with other enemies. You can choose to avoid these battles, but defeating enemies is the way you earn skill points — two of them were earned during the 15-minute demonstration.
Several different environments will be available in the game. These include “ancient forest,” “windswept cliffs,” and “haunted jungles.” It appears there will be some degree of player-choice regarding structure, as the official website says you will be able to choose your next destination.
During Star Wars Celebration in April 2019, Electronic Arts revealed that there will never be microtransactions or loot boxes in the game. It also confirmed that it will be a single-player experience. There will not be a separate multiplayer mode — a rarity for Electronic Arts in 2019.
Characters
Cal Kestis is a young Padawan working alone, likely following the death of his master in the aftermath of Order 66. He is one of the last remaining Jedi — or Jedi-in-training — alongside Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, though a connection to these characters remains unknown.
A middle-aged woman will serve as one of Cal’s allies, and is seen extending her hand to him as he attempts to jump onto a ship near the end of the official trailer. She is a pilot, taking control of the vehicle after Cal successfully boards.
The stormtrooper Cal battles in the trailer is known as a “Purge Trooper,” and was designed specifically to battle against those with force sensitivity. With an electrified staff, he requires more planning and tactical precision than other enemies.
The main villain of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the “Second Sister,” who can be seen landing on the front of the ship at the end of the trailer. She is an Inquisitor tasked with killing remaining Jedi, and was previously seen in Star Wars comics.
We saw an already-known character from Star Wars: Rogue One also appear in the EA Play 2019 demonstration. Forrest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera briefly talks to Cal before he completes his mission on Kashyyyk, providing him with information he needs. It’s unclear the extent to which the character will appear in the game, but the character model is clearly meant to represent Whitaker.
Release date and editions
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 15, 2019.
Multiple versions will be available. In the Deluxe Edition, you’ll get “Director’s Cut” features not included in the standard version, as well as cosmetic gear.
