Despite recent cancellations and layoffs affecting various projects within Electronic Arts, Respawn Entertainment's collaboration with Bit Reactor on a Star Wars strategy game is still very much alive. This development comes after EA's decision to streamline its project lineup, focusing more on live-service projects and owned IP.
Amidst this financially motivated reorientation, Respawn's Star Wars FPS faced the axe, leaving fans disheartened but still hopeful for other Star Wars projects in the pipeline.
Respawn, known for its success with titles such as Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series, had initially partnered with Bit Reactor in 2022 to develop an untitled Star Wars strategy game. Bit Reactor, a studio formed by veterans of Firaxis Games, known for its expertise in strategy games like XCOM, has since confirmed that their project remains unaffected by the recent changes at EA. This much-needed assurance comes amidst a significant restructuring at EA, which included the laying off of around 670 workers and a shift away from future licensed intellectual property projects.
Laura Miele, EA Entertainment president, emphasized the company's strategic pivot on the Star Wars Jedi series, all but confirming that a third game is in development, and Respawn's rich library of owned brands, which prompted calls for a third mainline Titanfallentry.