Publisher EA and developer Respawn Entertainment finally gave fans a new look at Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which features a more experienced Cal Kestis doing "whatever it takes" as the Galactic Empire's hunt for him intensifies. Indeed, this translates to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's gameplay, as Kestis whips out plenty of new moves that put Jedi: Fallen Order's lightsaber combat to shame. It's a marked improvement, at least it would seem, over an already great system, making the wait for it seem all the longer.
Not much of the story has been shown yet outside the Galactic Empire's continued hunt for Cal Kestis, and with EA's limited marketing approach for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it's uncertain how much fans will see ahead of release. Fans will hopefully get plenty of new info before then, but pouring over the new Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer will be enough for now. And interestingly enough, Kylo Ren's influence cannot be ignored.
Cal Kestis and Kylo Ren
Kylo Ren's birth in the Star Wars timeline obviously takes place long after Star Wars Jedi: Survivor does, but since the prequel trilogy released first, his influence is palpable. Kylo Ren was the first Force user to ever wield a Crossguard Lightsaber in the movies, while his first appearance in The Force Awakens shows off a dominating use of a new Force Stasis ability. Both of these things interestingly appear in the new trailer.
Cal Kestis uses Force Stasis to slow time in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, effectively freezing an onslaught of blaster bolts and giving him the advantage against a couple of Stormtroopers. Later on, Kestis is shown to look at a new lightsaber, one with a similar Crossguard to Kylo Ren's. The trailer only shows Kestis wielding a single saber, dual wielding two sabers, and connecting the two into a dual blade (when he throws it) similar to his lightsabers in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, so it's uncertain if he'll use this or if it's just a tease. Kylo Ren's lightsaber was obviously red, while Kestis' is notably blue. Notably, Kestis isn't the first Jedi since Kylo Ren's appearance to come across this design, as Ezra Bridger finds a green one in Star Wars Rebels.
At the end of the day, these are obvious nods to Kylo Ren and nothing more, but that's to be expected with a franchise as grandiose as Star Wars. There's likely to be other Easter eggs and nods fans find, even if Star Wars Jedi: Survivor falls earlier on the timeline, but that's what makes all Star Wars material feel connected.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on March 17, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
