EA reportedly cancels Mandalorian game amidst layoffs
Well, this isn't the way. The gaming industry is in a sorry state right now, and with the start of 2024 already trying to eclipse 2023's mass layoffs, Microsoft, Sony, and Electronic Arts have all been decimated. Just days after Sony confirmed 900 job losses, EA jumped in from the side to confirm its own 670 redundancies.
It's unclear what these layoffs will mean in the long run, but it's fair to assume that some upcoming games will be affected - if not cancelled altogether. EA was once its own Palpatine of the Star Wars franchise, but as the license has been shipped around, its hold on the galaxy far, far away could be slipping.
Respawn's first-person Star Wars shooter has reportedly been axed
Click to enlargeFollowing the spectacular fallout of Battlefront II's microtransaction drama, Respawn Entertainment has been the 'new hope' that Star Wars needed. The Titanfall developer's work on 2019's Jedi: Fallen Order and 2023's Jedi: Survivor gifted us Cal Kestis and made the most of that lucrative post-Order 66 storytelling.
A third game for Kestis is supposedly on the way, but keen to make the most of Star Wars, Respawn was working on a first-person shooter set in the world of Wookiees and Wampas. It was thought to be a game based on the bounty hunter race of Mandalorians, which could've brought fan favourites like Din Djarin and Boba Fett into the mix.
Sadly, VGC reports that Respawn's Star Wars FPS has been lost amidst the layoffs. A statement from EA Entertainment president Laura Miele says Respawn will focus on the Jedi and Apex Legends games: "As we've looked at Respawn’s portfolio over the last few months, what's clear is the games our players are most excited about are Jedi and Respawn's rich library of owned brands."
Saying that the team will "pivot away from early development on a Star Wars FPS Action game," Miele added, "It's always hard to walk away from a project, and this decision is not a reflection of the team's talent, tenacity, or passion they have for the game." There will be a new focus on providing "next instalments of the iconic franchises."
There are still plenty of Star Wars games to enjoy
Click to enlargeFear not, there's still a well-stocked cantina of Star Wars games on the way. As well as Cal's third outing seemingly being safe, other developers are hard at work like a loyal army of Clones. Quantic Dream is working on Star Wars Eclipse, although we haven't heard much from the title set in the High Republic era.
Massive Entertainment has Star Wars Outlaws, which is hopefully coming out later this year and will be a female-first adventure about a spacefaring scoundrel called Kay Vess. The third-person shooter is an open-world Star Wars game set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so look out for some familiar faces.
Respawn's Star Wars FPS had some impressive talent like The Force Unleashed and original Battlefront's Peter Hirschmann, while it looked like those rumours of a long-awaited Mando game were coming true. Unfortunately, it's over to someone else to don the beskar and swing the Darksaber.
