Star Wars Jedi: Survivor hit stores and digital storefronts worldwide late last month. While the game wasn't without its controversies, it was overall well-reviewed by critics and has beat EA's sales expectations. Oddly enough, the story for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also beat out another planned game in the franchise in terms of its story and lore.
In late 2021, Star Wars Eclipse was revealed to be in development by Heavy Rain studio Quantic Dream, and was said to take place during the High Republic period of the franchise. It isn't clear when the game will be released, but it has been beaten to the punch as the first video game to include bits from the setting. Because of this, it will now have to contend with the various lore and beats that were included in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
The High Republic and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
For a while, it wasn't entirely clear what direction the sequel's narrative would take. The second trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor finally provided some hints but saved a lot for the game itself. After battling the empire for several years, protagonist Cal Kestis found himself in conflict with a fallen Jedi from the High Republic period. The two competed to get to a new planet discovered that is outside the Empire's control. This marks the first time the High Republic period has been featured in a video game.
The High Republic in the Star Wars canon was a somewhat under-explored aspect of the universe for a long time. But since Disney took over the property, numerous novels and comic books have been published that take place in the era. Now, thanks to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, gamers now have their first look at the period off the page and on-screen.
What Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s High Republic Connections Mean for Star Wars Eclipse
Less than a month after it was announced, stories began to come out that Star Wars Eclipse was having development problems. Quantic Dream was also accused of having a toxic workplace, especially for women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. However, in 2021 the Paris Court of Appeals made a decision which dismissed the allegations against Quantic Dream, and the studio has continued to grow since then. Alongside hiring members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Quantic Dream made a statement about the issues.
While the developer has moved on from this controversy, it will have to handle another form of scrutiny considering the sheer size of the Star Wars brand and its many fans. Its treatment of the High Republic period will inevitably be compared to that of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and may have to go out of its way not to do anything that would disrupt the period's continuity.
On the other hand, it is possible that Star Wars Eclipse could be developed with a story that never crosses paths with the story of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Indeed, the High Republic era takes place over a 300-year period in a very large galaxy. Quantic Dream could very well make its story without mentioning Star WarsJedi: Survivor antagonist Dagan Gera or the people who knew him during this time. It all depends on what direction the developer opts to go and how tightly it wishes to keep the era woven together.
Ultimately, it's too soon to say what Quantic Dream will do with the upcoming game. It's currently rumored that Star Wars Eclipse won't be released until 2027 at the earliest, and details on the game's narrative are very limited. However, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor beat Star Wars Eclipse to the punch for the High Republic period and will likely find itself compared to it either way. Whether it manages to surpass Respawn's take remains to be seen.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
