In gaming’s modern era, wholly single-player affairs are something of a rarity. In recent years, publishers like EA and Activision have increasingly favored the ‘games as a service’ model spearheaded by the likes of Anthem and Destiny, though there has been a resurgence as of late. Devil May Cry 5 and FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, in particular, have proven that an appetite for solo adventures very much still exists, and come this fall, there’ll be another to join them.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, seemingly contrary to EA’s current business strategy, has been designed from the ground-up specifically for one person to experience, with not even the faintest hint of a multiplayer component in sight. It’s easy to assume that the decision was finalized and mandated by EA off the back of Star Wars Battlefront II‘s controversial launch, but the choice, it seems, was Respawn’s to make.
Explaining the decision in a recent Inside Xbox episode, Fallen Order narrative lead Aaron Contreras revealed that ultimately, it was Star Wars fans that swayed its decision. “When we look at Star Wars and we look at what people want out of a Jedi-focused game, it’s the story,” says Contreras, who adds that it’s the core battle between two polar opposite sides of the Force and the adventures that follow which best define a Star Wars game, as well as facilitate immersion.
It’s tough to argue with that viewpoint, especially when one considers the franchise’s storied history with other single-player experiences. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, in particular, are often considered to be some of the best tales set in a galaxy far, far away, not to mention some of the greatest RPGs of all time. Assuming Respawn’s passion extends to all facets of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, fans are surely in for one hell of a ride later this year. A portion of lingering doubt still swirls around gameplay, but expect the fog on that to be lifted come E3 in June.
