Games

EA's Scrapped Mandalorian Game Echoes Star Wars 1313 Fiasco

EA has axed yet another Star Wars venture, mirroring the demise of Star Wars 1313 years ago.
EA's Scrapped Mandalorian Game Echoes Star Wars 1313 Fiasco

Highlights

  • The cancellation of the Mandalorian FPS by EA adds to a string of letdowns for Star Wars gaming enthusiasts in the last decade.
  • This termination parallels the loss of Star Wars 1313, a game featuring Boba Fett that met its end under Disney's reign.
  • While Star Wars Outlaws might provide a comparable experience in 2024, a new game centered around the Mandalorian deserves a shot in the future.

Throughout its history spanning over four decades, the Star Wars franchise has encountered numerous highs and lows. For every Empire Strikes Back, there exists a Star Wars Holiday Special, and for every Knights of the Old Republic, there's a Masters of Teras Kasi. The past decade, in particular, has been tumultuous for Star Wars gaming initiatives due to the franchise's exclusive pact with EA, causing discontent among many fans. As this deal nears its conclusion, EA's cancellation of Respawn's Mandalorian first-person shooter marks another letdown for the community.

Respawn's work on a Star Wars first-person shooter, focusing on a Mandalorian lead character, was widely known. However, EA recently scrapped the project, citing a shift towards internal intellectual property. This move has deeply disappointed much of the Star Wars fan base, echoing past cancellations experienced by fans. Over a decade later, the void left by the cancellation of Star Wars 1313 still lingers, with Respawn's Mandalorian FPS now drawing eerie parallels.

The Parallel Paths of Star Wars 1313 and EA's Mandalorian Game

Over the past couple of decades, Star Wars has seen several canceled games, but few resonated as deeply as Star Wars 1313. Unveiled in 2012, 1313 promised to delve into the seedy underbelly of Coruscant, the Republic's capital. Initially centered around a new smuggler protagonist, the project shifted focus to a young Boba Fett at George Lucas' insistence. Despite promising gameplay demos and a darker tone that fans craved, 1313 met its demise when Disney axed all LucasArts' upcoming projects in 2013.

With EA's Mandalorian game now canceled, it shares striking similarities with 1313. Both games featured protagonists relying on blasters and gadgets rather than lightsabers and the Force, offering a fresh perspective in the Star Wars gaming realm. The Mandalorians, a beloved faction in the universe, would have brought their iconic armor and tools to gameplay. Ultimately, corporate decisions led to the downfall of both titles, leaving developers and fans disheartened.

Alternate Avenues for Star Wars Enthusiasts

While the potential of 1313 and EA's Mandalorian game remains unrealized, hope lingers for fans seeking a similar experience. Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws appears poised to deliver the scoundrel-centered adventure fans have longed for. Although not a Mandalorian-centric game, Outlaws promises a journey through the galaxy's darker corners for an exhilarating escapade. As one of the initial releases post EA's exclusivity agreement, Outlaws may kindle optimism for a future game that redeems these lost projects.

For many Star Wars enthusiasts, the termination of the Mandalorian game serves as a bitter conclusion to a decade of frustration. While EA had successes with titles like Star Wars Battlefront 2 and Star Wars Jedi, setbacks were common. Respawn now joins the ranks of developers who had promising Star Wars projects shelved. Fans can only anticipate that the future of Star Wars gaming includes the Mandalorian game of their dreams.

Tags:
Share:
Recent News