Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is one of the most anticipated games of the stacked 2023 release schedule. Any new Star Wars property is going to generate a good amount of hype, but the excitement has gone to a new level following the success of 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The exact release date has not been confirmed, but fans will be lining up to learn more about Cal’s journey when Jedi: Survivor hits the shelves.
In a surprise to fans, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s latest trailer revealed that there will be a time jump between the two games. Cal Kestis and his loyal droid BD-1 will return, but the fate of the rest of the Mantis crew is left in question during the intervening years. While fans will have to wait to find out the future for Cere, Greez, and Merrin, the time jump puts the game in the same period as two other popular Star Wars stories, which could give gamers a hint of what’s in store for Cal in Jedi: Survivor.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Respawn has confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes place in the year 9 BBY, the exact same year that Obi-Wan Kenobi is set. This year is the midpoint between the prequels and the original Star Wars trilogy, making it an excellent place in the timeline for new stories. The Empire is at its peak, the Jedi have been killed or scattered, and the future for the galaxy looks bleak.
While it’s unlikely that Obi-Wan will make an appearance in the game, it provides important context to what is taking place in the rest of the universe. Darth Vader and his Inquisitors are on the hunt for the remaining Jedi but seem singularly focused on tracking down Anakin’s former master. This could present an opportunity for Cal and the Mantis crew to make a more aggressive move while the force-users are preoccupied with another threat. This also means that while Darth Vader appears in Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is likely to contain a different antagonist.
However, several side characters are prime candidates to appear in Survivor. Tala’s inside knowledge of Imperial bases would provide crucial information for Cal as he seeks to end the Empire. Obi-Wan Kenobi also introduces fans to Roken, the leader of a rebel group known as The Path. When Obi-Wan passes through one of The Path’s hideouts, he notices a collection of messages from former Jedi who have worked with Roken and Tala. Cal leaving one of those messages would be an excellent touch of world-building in the Star Wars canon.
Star Wars Rebels
Though it doesn’t get the fanfare of many other Star Wars properties, Star Wars Rebels is one of the best adaptations in the franchise since Disney acquired Lucasfilm a decade ago. Set in this same period, Rebels follows a group of insurgents conducting small operations around the galaxy to combat the Empire. The group is led by former Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus and his new Padawan Ezra Bridger.
Unlike Obi-Wan Kenobi, gamers are much more likely to meet characters from Rebels in Jedi: Survivor. The main protagonists of Rebels are vital to their story but appear sparsely throughout the rest of the Star Wars franchise, giving the game’s creators much more freedom. Obi-Wan Kenobi already created plenty of plot holes and the Star Wars franchise will want to stay away from complicating the canon any further going forward.
Ezra’s whereabouts are unknown following the conclusion of Rebels but would be an excellent character to appear in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. One of the surprise successes of Fallen Order was the flashbacks to Cal’s Jedi training, and Ezra could help Cal develop his skills further as he prepares to mount an attack against the Empire. Additionally, with Greez’s disappearance, the Mantis could require a new pilot, and ace pilot Hera Syndulla of Star Wars Rebels is one of the best in the galaxy.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is expected to launch in 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
