To say thatLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagahas a had a rough go at things would be an understatement. The game has suffered a handful of delays, much like other games that were supposed to come out in 2020. On top of this, the spring release window that has been set for the game for quite some time now is fast approaching, and there are no signs of a definitiverelease date forLego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. If the game really is going to release in the next couple of months, it’s going to have to make up for lost time, and this will likely require an aggressive marketing campaign.
It’s clear that the main focus ofLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagais going to be on the nine main films of the franchise, but much of the fanbase is split on its opinions towards certain eras. If there’s one thing that a large portion ofStar Warsfans can agree on however, it’s thatThe Mandalorianseries has provided some of the bestStar Warscontent since the original film released in 1977. Although it may contradict with the game’s central theme, leveraging the popularity of the series would likely giveThe Skywalker Sagaa huge boost in anticipation leading up to the release.
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The Power of Baby Yoda
IfThe Mandalorianhas demonstrated anything, it’s that cuteness sells. This was apparent from the show’s first episode, when the world was introduced to and collectively fell in love with Baby Yoda (or Grogu). The pint-sized alien took the internet by storm, even drawing in people that had never seen aStar Warsmovie before.Baby Yoda has become the face of the franchiseever since, ushering in hundreds of different products that capitalize on the creature’s cuteness.
IfLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagais going to draw in as many players as possible, taking advantage of Baby Yoda’s popularity is a must. One of the more obvious ways that this could be accomplished would be through a trailer that focuses on the little green guy. It’s been established that Baby Yoda trained at the Jedi Temple, so a trailer could see him interacting with other Jedi such asObi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker. Even if it’s at the expense of the canon, seeing Baby Yoda go through every era ofStar Warsand interact with characters such as Darth Vader or Rey could build up a lot of hype for the game.
Everyone’s Favorite Space Dad
Baby Yoda may be a big part ofwhat has madeThe Mandalorianso wildly popular, but the heart of the series lies with its titular character. If Baby Yoda played on viewers' weakness to adorable alien infants, then Mando has played on viewers' weakness to a reluctant father figure. Half of the charm of the show stems from how much the bounty hunter cares for Grogu. It also helps that Pedro Pascal has given immense depth to the character with his performance, cementing Mando in the hearts of many StarWarsfans.
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Massive DLC Potential
It’s already been revealed thatLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagais going to include six DLC character packs that will be automatically available to those who purchasethe deluxe edition of the game. Although it hasn’t been officially revealed what those character packs will specifically entail, it’s likely that they’ll coverThe Mandalorian. This character pack would probably feature Mando, Baby Yoda, and any other assortment of characters from the show. If the game is going to really succeed, however, it should double down on any potentialMandalorianDLC and show it off pre-launch.
OtherStar Warscreations likeRogueOneandRebelsmay have their dedicated fanbases, but none are as massively popular asThe Mandalorian. If the game’s developer and marketing team really want to bring in some cash, making the very first character pack focused on the series would likely entice a lot of people towards getting the deluxe edition of the game. If players know that soon after the release they’re going to get their hands on a playable Baby Yoda, made even cuter in LEGO form, they’ll likely rush to pre-order it as soon as possible.
The nature ofThe Mandalorianbeing an ongoing series means thatthere’s nearly unlimited potential for DLC contentas the show comes out with new seasons. If Traveler’s Tales really wanted to maximize the amount of money thatThe Skywalker Sagamakes, it could make an additional DLC pack based on the second season of the show that releases either in the middle or close to the end of the six character packs. This would ensure that fans of the show still have something to look forward to after the first pack comes out. It could even lengthen the life cycle of the game, as the release of a secondaryMandalorianDLC could grab the attention of gamers that may have missed the first one.
TheLEGO Star Warsgameshave always celebrated what makesStar Warssuch a world-renowned franchise. Putting a heavy focus onThe Mandalorianwould not only bring in a lot of cash for Traveller’s Tales, but it would also let the newest addition to theStar Warsgalaxy shine through like it deserves. Now that winter is coming to a close and the spring release window is fast approaching,LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagawill likely be heading into its marketing period very soon. Time will tell if the team behind the game puts its trust into what is likely the future of the franchise.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagareleases in spring 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
