In an already stunning start to 2021 (and I’m sure most of you can figure out what I mean by that), Disney & LucasFilms have revived LucasFilms gaming division which went defunct in 2013. Originally known as LucasArts the studio was responsible for the development of a slew of Star Wars games including the much anticipated Star Wars 1313, but it and all other in-development games were cancelled once Disney announced the closure of the studio. Disney would go on to sign an exclusivity deal with Electronic Arts for its Star Wars brand. This was met with a lukewarm reception only recently gaining critical acclaim with titles such as Jedi Fallen Order, Squadrons, and a years later revamped version of the controversial Battlefront II which in a way would likely be the catalyst of these future events.

Following a press release touting a bright future for Star Wars games, LucasFilms wasted no time in announcing the first titles in the relaunched studio’s repertoire; an Indiana Jones titled developed by MachineGames & published by Bethesda and for the first time in nearly eight years a non-EA Star Wars title developed by Massive Entertainment & Ubisoft. Bethesda described their Indie title as a “brand new story” starring the famed archeologist. While Ubisoft’s Star Wars is an open world title. LucasFilms Games has since stated that these two titles are just the beginning. This effectively ends EA’s Star Wars exclusivity which had recently been renewed up to 2023, though the publisher can likely continue working on and developing more of the Star Wars titles they own such as Jedi Fallen Order which has a sequel reportedly launching sometime in 2022 and Battlefront which also has a reported sequel in the works.