Star Wars gaming is looking to have a very bright future with Lucasfilm Games showing greater interest in unlocking the treasures of this IP for more game developers. The franchise is home to an extensive collection of stories, characters, and worlds that are ripe for the interactive medium, and a new generation of consoles could power Star Wars experiences that have the sophistication and production quality that fans would appreciate. Assuming that Disney is still dedicated to maintaining a consistent continuity in its storytelling, gaming could take advantage of recognizable, yet obscure, elements of the universe with ample room for creative freedom.
The classic Star Wars Legends timeline might be suitable source material for games that intend to expose fresh interpretations of these events within the context of canon. Rather than expecting direct remakes, fans might see contemporary games standing on their own merits while also applying central themes and features which made Legends special. It is especially unlikely that new properties will be made in Legends, so Lucasfilm Games could approve projects that revive these adventures through an immersive structure in canon. The High Republic multimedia project presents a different era in Star Wars that is already being explored in Quantic Dream's Star Wars Eclipse, but it would be refreshing to see other eras represented in games as well.
Darth Bane and the Brotherhood of Darkness
Darth Bane was a Sith Lord that lived around 1,000 years before the events of the original trilogy of Star Wars films, and he is known most prominently as the creator of the Rule of Two - a law that mandated that only two Sith should be dominant at any point in time. The origin of this law came as a consequence of the Sith Army's downfall in the New Sith Wars, and the aftermath of those wars was reflected later in the Jedi Knight series. Documenting the story of a massive war between Jedi and Sith would not only be a monumental task for a game, but it might even fit the scale of something resembling Ubisoft's rumored universe-spanning Star Wars project.
The Sith Army, also known as the Brotherhood of Darkness, is mentioned in canon material but was originally involved in the tragedy of the Valley of the Jedi from Legends. The valley was believed to be the site of the final defeat of the Sith, and it first appeared as an ancient source of power in Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces 2. This 1997 FPS game could act as a starting point in adapting the New Sith Wars in canon, as this confrontation is just one of many untapped events in Star Wars that might make a great gaming journey.
The Great Hyperspace War in Star Wars
Deeper in the timeline, there are many figures who would be fantastic Star Wars antagonists - one being Naga Sadow. In Legends, the Great Hyperspace War was a conflict that occurred 5,000 years before the first Star Wars film. Naga Sadow was a Sith alchemist who led the Sith Empire in this war, and his gambit was nearly successful as he also benefited from the support of his corrupted Massassi Warriors.
The Republic eventually caught up to his illusory schemes and drove the Sith Lord into exile on Yavin 4. A new story set during the Great Hyperspace War could reveal a more primitive period in the Galaxy, and it may also function as an example of a Star Wars game that centers on the dark side. There is great potential in Star Wars portraying the progression of its factions over time, and this is one era that might be visually stunning as well.
The Dark Trooper Project
Few other stories received as much renewed attention in recent years as the legend of the Dark Troopers. The second season of The Mandalorian featured these cybernetic horrors as droids that were nearly invulnerable to anything but a lightsaber. Originally, the Dark Trooper Project was the subject of Star Wars: Dark Forces, a classic shooter where players uncover the secrets of the Empire as Rebel Kyle Katarn. The game guided players through a 14-level campaign where they could infiltrate hidden Imperial facilities and unearth the conspiracies of a ruthless war machine. With the Knights of the Old Republic remake already underway with a new developer, there is space for a side story that exists within the bounds of an established period in Star Wars history.
In a retelling of Dark Forces, Lucasfilm Games could draw fans into the fantasy of espionage in the Star Wars universe - it would be fitting to see Dark Troopers return in the same medium they originated from. Fans might even notice a few similarities between Jedi: Survivor and Jedi Outcast which proves that gaming-based inspirations could be valuable if they can also elevate upcoming titles in the franchise.
