Is it rogue server week or something? Fans have now announced another privately run Star Wars Galaxies server, this one called SWG: Beyond. Longtime fans of the franchise will know that there have been dozens of SWG rogue servers popping up over the years, with at least two dozen of them still live and kicking. In fact, our own Hyperspace Beacon has recently dipped a toe into the community, considering multiple servers for Star Wars adventures, including the original SWGEmu and the NGE-based SWG Legends.
Beyond’s hook is that it’s a “contemporary take” on the game, not an attempt to copycat an exact moment in MMO history. “The intention is not to sacrifice anything from the beloved game, while adding new and creative content and features to experience and look forward to,” the developers wrote on Reddit. “Part of the reason for fluctuation in population on the live game was due to updates. They keep your gaming experience feeling fresh and progressive. That is a lost aspect to an emulator that seeks only to exactly imitate or clone one static era of the game. This will utilize the NGE combat system and be developed beyond that.” Apparently a new Vanguard class, new Lok battlefield, and weapon overhaul are among this server’s special features.
As for whether these servers are legal? Well, the original SWGEmu has been in production since 2004, and neither SOE then nor Daybreak and Disney now appear to have chased any of these servers off the net in the ensuing 15 years, plus former Daybreak employees have been known to publicly support the emulator community. But since that support is merely tacit and not official, as always, we urge caution.
