All right, history lesson time for those who don’t remember: Back in 1982, Lucasfilm had created Lucasfilm Games as part of the company’s gaming creation and publishing arm. Most people are familiar with this company as LucasArts, a name it came up with after a reorganization in 1990. This was the overarching company name for most Star Wars-related games all the way up to Disney’s acquisition of everything Lucasfilm — including the games department — in 2012. Then in 2013, Disney effectively shut down LucasArts in the interest of “minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games.”
This is all effectively leading up to yesterday’s reveal that Lucasfilm Games is back once more, announcing a unified identity for all Star Wars games going forward along with a flashy new logo, some new social media channels, and a sizzle reel celebrating already released Star Wars games and tie-ins.
“Lucasfilm’s legacy in gaming stretches back decades. And with Lucasfilm and the galaxy far, far away entering a new and unprecedented phase of creativity, so will the world of Lucasfilm Games — developed in collaboration with the finest studios across the industry.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean anything for existing Star Wars titles such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Wars Squadrons, or Star Wars Battlefront II, but it does seem to indicate that other development studios are being brought into the fold; readers will also recall that Electronic Arts had signed a multi-year deal to create Star Wars games, which is set to end in 2023.
Worth noting here is that Lucasfilm had multiple IPs under its belt, not just Star Wars – in fact, it appears we’re getting a new Indiana Jones game from Bethsoft, though whether it’s multiplayer (and something we’ll continue further) remains to be seen!
A new Indiana Jones game with an original story is in development from our studio, @MachineGames, and will be executive produced by Todd Howard, in collaboration with @LucasfilmGames. It'll be some time before we have more to reveal, but we’re very excited to share today’s news!
— Bethesda (@bethesda) January 12, 2021
Make a Willow MMO you cowards!
Oh yes!
I’d give my kid blackroot for a Willow MMO.
Assuming this means that EA will be losing their exclusive license, this is very good news!
I’ve been boycotting EA for nearly 8 years now, all of their games end up disappointing me. This means it’s been a long time since I’ve played a good SW game, I’m hoping this announcement means I’ll start seeing (and playing!) some good ones in the not-too-distant future.
Yeah, probably not. It just is a way to obfuscate that it’s STILL EA making some of the stuff. They just won’t up front state which development company is behind the given game. I’m sure the info will stull be there. You’ll just need to dig a bit to find it.
It was confirmed by Jason Schreier that the license isn’t being renewed.
Not that anybody doubted it but this should put to bed any thoughts that EA will get another exclusive license.
Ya know…nothing in that sizzle reel gained my interest.
Four little words could’ve though.
“Deep in the Caribbean”
A lot of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 actors have been back in mocap and recording studios lately, so it looks like we’re getting a sequel soon. And the new Indy game has me excited. How long has it been since we’ve had an Indiana Jones game?
The last one I played was that NES game.
Emperor’s Tomb from 2003.
Actually, Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, November 2009.
Or Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, June 2009, if you want a non-Lego game (though it was exclusive to consoles).
Edit: But yeah, Emperor’s Tomb was the last non-Lego Indiana Jones game released for the PC.
Nothing against Lego games, they’re cute and fun, but I wouldn’t consider them an “authentic” experience for any of the IPs they pay homage to. I would’ve counted Staff of Kings if I knew about it, but my last console was Sega Genesis and I don’t pay much attention to that side of the fence.
I think the last one I played was the Fate of Atlantis one. Enjoyable but some of the puzzles… >8.0
Some of those old Lucasfilm games were great fun too! I have a bunch of their games on the Commodore 64, PC, and some of my older consoles Koronis Rift, Rescue on Fractulus, Ballblazer, Maniac Mansion, The Eidolon, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, TIE Fighter, and etc.
Ball Blazer/Blaster was amazing! And Rescue on Fractulus/Behind Jaggi Lines… I only had a black and white TV at the time, so could never tell what colour the astronout’s helmet was, until he got underneath the window and… BAWOOOOO!!!! Scared the bejeebus out of me every time!
Even better was if you let one in by mistake, then you had to haul ass into orbit before it tore the ship up from the inside.