A long time ago, in a galaxy, far, far away, countless classic adventures have taken place and thrilled audiences of all ages. From the theatrical Star Wars saga to the expanded universe in comics and television shows and even video games, Star Wars has entertained generations since it first hit the scene back in 1977. Star Wars: Eclipse is the latest in a list of upcoming Star Wars multimedia projects, officially unveiled at last night's Game Awards 2021 showcase.
The trailer presented an epic scale, showing off multiple planets, species, and elements of the Star Wars universe. The tone of the trailer was dark, teasing a potentially more mature adventure in this universe. This seems especially fitting since the project is being developed by Quantic Dream, the same studio behind numerous interactive dramas like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, narratives which featured numerous complex themes. While well-received, these titles were more niche in terms of popularity when compared to other PlayStation exclusives. Now, working on an established property with Star Wars: Eclipse, Quantic Dream has a chance to really shoot into the spotlight.
A Focus on Character
While some have argued that Quantic Dream's writing hasn't always been the most accessible, it's undeniable that its projects all have an intense focus on character-driven storylines. Heavy Rain made waves in 2010 for its ambitious scope, telling a tale that revolves around four main protagonists, with plot threads that connect and have lasting consequences for the remainder of the journey. This trend continued on in both Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human. Quantic Dream has always put its characters at the forefront of the plot, letting their actions and emotions drive the action forward.
This is a refreshing approach compared to so many other narratives in the video game medium in which characters are mostly empty vessels for the player to place themselves in. There is, of course, nothing wrong with this, but for a story to truly resonate, a certain amount of depth is necessary for audiences to find something to connect with and latch onto. Based on the Game Awards trailer, Star Wars: Eclipse looks like it will have a much darker tone than recent games set in the universe, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. If this is truly the approach being taken, Quantic Dream has proven itself to understand how to deliver upon that tone, and carefully pace out character moments to support a more mature storyline.
Star Wars is One of the Biggest IPs in Media
Star Wars itself, is easily among the most popular and successful franchises in pop culture history. Whether it's die-hard fans that obsess over every last piece of lore, or more casual fans just seeing the newest film, Star Wars has a reach and accessibility that few other series can match. This presents a huge opportunity and responsibility for Quantic Dream to deliver on, as now, there are more eyes on its studio than ever before to deliver a top-quality product.
As mentioned, past titles like Heavy Rain certainly did well all things considered, but wasn't a blockbuster hit like Uncharted or God of War. This is not a negative comment on the games themselves, but the subject matter was more restrained to particular interests, such as film noir or psychological thrillers. Star Wars has tapped into multiple genres and interests over the years, from action to romance, comedy, and even horror, so it can be bent and shaped in many ways to reach an even larger audience. Plus, the name Star Wars is recognized around the world, so the brand alone will get someone's attention.
Quantic Dream has been celebrated for its efforts in the past, but now with Star Wars: Eclipse, it has a chance to really make it big. Having all of this attention, as well as the added pressure to now deliver on a respected brand, might be the perfect storm to craft a breakout hit for the company. In some ways, it's similar to the same position that Insomniac found itself in just a few short years ago with Marvel's Spider-Man. The studio had many beloved games up to that point, what with Resistance and Ratchet and Clank, but nothing that truly took the entire industry by storm. Upon tackling arguably the most popular Marvel superhero, Spider-Man, the team suddenly found itself becoming one of the biggest developers in the business.
Star Wars: Eclipse - An Opportunity for Something Unique
With all that being said, it still begs the question of what shape Star Wars: Eclipse will ultimately take. Based on the studio's previous titles, it's safe to assume that an interactive, narrative-heavy adventure game is the route that will be taken here. This will be a nice alternative to the more action-based titles like the aforementioned Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars: Squadrons.
Additionally, the trailer may provide more information than it seems, despite not containing any actual gameplay footage. The mood of the trailer is dark, moody and contains a layer of palpable dread underneath. It's also worth noting just what a variety of locations and characters are shown off, ranging from elements in the classic trilogy, the prequels, and everything in between. This shows an understanding and care to explore the vast reaches of every corner of the Star Wars galaxy, and hopefully, Quantic Dream has the right story in mind for such a grand scale journey.
Star Wars: Eclipse is currently in development.