Summary
Still years from release,Star Wars Eclipsehas already presented itself as a game that will challenge Disney’s commitment to consistency forStar Wars' canon going forward. A recent interview illuminated Quantic Dream’s intention to create a game where no plot armor is too thick for its characters, stating that anyone could die inStar Wars Eclipse-that the story must go on regardless of how much a character’s relationship with their mortal coil derails the narrative.
In September 2023, Quantic Dream’s Vice President of Marketing Lisa Pendse sat down with IGN to offer some scattereddetails regarding its enigmatic new titleStar Wars Eclipse. Among the addressed rumors and various tidbits was a quote that has since faced scrutiny byStar Warsfans, wary ofStar Wars Eclipsebecoming at odds with its overlying IP. “There’s no game over. Anyone can die, anything can happen and the story sort of continues.”
RELATED:Anyone Can Die in Star Wars Eclipse
Quantic Dream’s Style Runs Counter to Disney’s Current Rules for Star Wars
Quantic Dream has made its name on games with complex branching dialog trees which shape the narrative around player choice. The studio had previously made it clear thatStar Wars Eclipsewould be far more than just an incarnation ofDetroit: Become Human, but it is fair to assume based on the studio’s track record, its new game will possess much of the same DNA. The ‘no character is sacred’ approach to storytelling strengthens that speculation, forecasting another game where player choice is paramount.
The major friction with that philosophy in design is therigidity of theStar Warscanon. In 2014, ahead of the release of the newStar Warstrilogy, everything outside the original six films, their novelizations, and a smattering of other content was reclassified as Legends, deemed no longer a part of the officialStar Warscanon. In addition, allStar Warscontent moving forward would adhere to a tiered, but unified canon (Star Wars Infinitynotwithstanding). This was done to iron out inconsistencies and contradictions, forming a less disjointed lore for the IP. With a game so nebulous that any main character could either live or die, it is easy to see whyStar Wars Eclipsecould run into difficulties.
Even Side Stories Bare Relevance to Star Wars' Main Canon
Set during theHigh Republic era ofStar Wars, centuries before the franchise’s most popular content, there is an argument to be made thatStar Wars Eclipseis far enough removed to be largely inconsequential in the scheme of things. Its central protagonists and antagonists will clash in the annals of a timeline with a foregone conclusion, and on that basis, will have little bearing on the canon ofStar Wars.Regardless of how fast and loose it plays with killing off central figures, the risk of contradictions cropping up is minimal.
Quantic Dream Wouldn’t Kill Yoda, Right?
That is not to say that the cast ofStar Wars Eclipsewill be composed entirely of fresh faces. Early promotional material has already teased Yoda, and there are several other figures from the history ofStar Warsthat could make an appearance. It does not seem likely that Quantic Dream would reckon withkilling off a cherishedStar Warsicon, but at the crossroads of Pendse’s statement and the confirmation of existingStar Warscharacters inStar Wars Eclipse, all bets are currently off.
WithQuantic Dream taking its time onStar Wars Eclipse, it could be as late as 2028 before fans finally get their hands on the game. A lot can change in five years, including Disney’s current stance on holdingStar Warscanon sacred.Star Wars Eclipsecould be given similar alternative timeline liberties as theStar Wars Infinityseries, or, perhaps far more likely, the notion that every character can die will be proven hyperbole. Either way, now that EA’s exclusivity deal withStar Warshas ended, it will be fascinating to see the route that games in the franchise tread.
