Electronic Arts have unveiled the first trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order during this year’s EA Play 2019 fan event.
Developed by Respawn Entertainment, Jedi: Fallen Order is EA’s first AAA Star Wars title since the divisive Star Wars Battlefront II in 2017. It will mark the end of a banner year for Respawn, whose battle royale title Apex Legends launched to critical and player acclaim in February.
The 15 minute gameplay trailer features main character Cal Kestis, played by Cameron Monaghan (Shameless, Gotham), on the Wookiee homeworld, Kashyyk. The Empire have been siphoning its resources to power their war machine. It’s first surprise is that it’s third person — Respawn’s pedigree meant it seemed like we were seeing a first person title. Its approach to combat and level design look like they have a lot in common with games like Jedi Knight II and The Force Unleashed. Main character Kal quickly meets up with Rogue One‘s Saw Gerrera and begin an infiltration of an Imperial factory, the goal being to rescue some captured Wookiees within.
Once inside the factory, we’re introduced to a few more mechanics — some Uncharted style climbing, a few force powers and stormtroopers reacting to creatures and enemies that aren’t the player. There’s Titanfall wallrunning, dark hallway fights to really make that lightsabre glow pop. We see Kal’s little droid friend ride on his back, providing support with heals and slicing into locked doors.
You can see the whole trailer below.
If this 15 minute trailer wasn’t enough for you, strap in, there’s more at the Xbox press briefing tomorrow.
EA’s marketing for the title has sung a tune players have longed to hear from the company — a Star Wars game boasting a meaty single-player experience, no multiplayer, no loot boxes and no microtransactions. That it goes so directly against the leanings of the monetisation-hungry publisher is significant — EA have been embroiled in one stoush with players or another since the launch of Battlefront II and have most recently been left to clean up the wreckage of Anthem‘s February launch. Indeed, Apex Legends is the only thing that’s gone right for EA in quite some time. They badly need another hit and, based on this trailer, it looks like they might have one at last.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order launches November 15, 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.
