The story of Star Wars Eclipse is based on player choices, which opens up a new path for the franchise, but it won’t be easy to reconcile with the canon.

Some gamers were a little apprehensive when Quantic Dream, a developer known for its narrative-focused and deeply cinematic titles, unveiled its upcoming game Star Wars Eclipse at the 2021 Game Awards. With a developer like Quantic Dream at the helm, Eclipse’s High Republic-era story will likely be filled with more dramatic intrigue than blaster fire.

While Star Wars Eclipse probably won’t be the kind of action-packed title the franchise is known for, the unique setting will surely appeal to many fans.

One of the most exciting aspects of Star Wars Eclipse is that it features multiple main characters. This allows players to experience the game’s story from different perspectives. The story is rumoured to focus on the political machinations of a race called Zaraan, a new race created for the game. Watching and influencing the unfolding events from multiple characters’ perspectives could make this game one of the most gripping Star Wars stories.

It is doubtful that Star Wars Eclipse will focus on the branching narrative as uniquely as many of Quantic Dream’s previous games. It will also likely include a healthy dose of action sequences worthy of the space opera setting. But player choice will undoubtedly play a big part. Studio founder and game master David Cage said in an interview in 2022 that Star Wars Eclipse would retain the “fundamentals” of Quantic Dream’s previous games. This suggests that player actions will almost certainly play a role in shaping the story.

After decades of the same characters, planets, and families playing central roles in much of the Star Wars media, many gamers will surely be excited to discover a game happily free of Skywalkers, Solos, and Palpatines.

Avoiding overused archetypes and minimising references to classic Star Wars should help. A player-driven story will have an easier time standing out. However, it can make it harder to tie the game into the overall timeline of the franchise.

The era of the High Republic will become more prominent in upcoming TV and film episodes. It even appears in the story of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. Eclipse could be in for an awkward situation. Disney may decide to make only one particular ending canon. All in order to tie it to the broader universe. This may reduce the fun for players whose story has different outcome. On the other hand, the end of the game may be left open-ended. This, in turn, would make it difficult to incorporate more than loose, casual references to the game into other media.

Source: GamesRadar