Several Star Wars-related projects have ultimately failed to reach the finish line, so let’s just hope Quantic Dream’s Star Wars Eclipse doesn’t suffer the same fate…

In recent years alone, we have heard about numerous high-profile cancellations, most notably Aspyr’s initial version of the Knights of the Old Republic Remake and Respawn Entertainment’s Mandalorian-led first-person shooter. However, the game in question was completely unknown until now. It was an unannounced project developed by the now-defunct Echtra Games. Before owner Zynga shut down Echtra last June, the studio was developing a mysterious AAA action RPG. MP1st has now revealed that this project was set to offer a Star Wars experience prior to its cancellation.

The project was originally confirmed in early 2021 as part of a collaboration with NaturalMotion, another Zynga subsidiary that had previously worked with the Star Wars IP. From that moment until the studio’s closure, the exact nature of the game was kept strictly under wraps. However, recent discoveries confirm that the title’s internal codename was Magellan. Development materials for the project were leaked by a former Echtra Games developer who uploaded a video showcasing the game to their personal portfolio. Although the developer’s identity is being kept confidential for privacy reasons, the shared footage clearly shows what the studio was working on.

The videos feature several gameplay clips and animations shown from a third-person perspective. They depict a Mandalorian and a Jedi character in a multiplayer ARPG with “loot-and-shoot” gameplay. When it comes to the stylistic choice, it is difficult not to notice the influence of Star Wars: Hunters in the character designs, which fits perfectly with the studios’ collaboration. Recurring figures in the materials include two specific characters: a masked gunman referred to in the files as Triggerman and a blue Twi’lek Jedi labeled Cleric. It is not yet known whether these were fixed character configurations or base templates for fully customizable heroes.

The two classes are seen battling all kinds of Imperial enemies, ranging from classic stormtroopers to heavy mechanized threats such as giant droid bosses. Players could use a number of signature abilities to defeat these opponents, including Jedi Force manipulation and lightsaber combat, as well as the Mandalorian’s jetpack-enhanced mobility, heavy firepower and flamethrower. The footage also showcases the use of various gadgets, such as electric grenades and defensive camp deployers. It offers a brief glimpse of several missions in development whose objectives included locating a specific character or warehouse, destroying or hacking signal networks and searching shipping containers. These scenes also demonstrate the game’s central loot system: players could acquire items such as Booster Gear from defeated enemies or by opening reward crates scattered throughout Imperial bases.

The game was set to feature an NPC relationship system. This mechanic was integrated directly into the title’s overarching narrative design strategy, suggesting that building relationships with non-playable characters would have played a significant role in the story alongside the action. In addition to the combat scenes, the second part of the footage transitions to raw animation and rigging footage, offering insight into the project’s technical foundations. This section showcases a wide range of character models and creatures, including standard stormtroopers, dual-wielding Mandalorians, alien monsters such as the four-legged Gundark and hound-like predators, as well as heavily armored security droids. All of these were developed using Unreal Engine 5, and the game was originally planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC. Unfortunately, a strategic restructuring between Zynga and Take-Two Interactive ultimately led to the demise of both the project and the studio. Consequently, Echtra Games was unable to release a single title between its acquisition by Zynga in 2021 and its closure in 2025.

While fans can still look forward to plenty of upcoming Star Wars titles, Magellan joins projects such as Project Ragtag and Aspyr’s Knights of the Old Republic Remake as yet another “what if” in the franchise’s long history of canceled games.

Source: MP1st