Lucasfilm Games is looking to expand the Star Wars gaming franchise by working with developers of different sizes, including independent studios. The company's vice president, Douglas Reilly, has confirmed that future projects will not necessarily require large development teams or expensive AAA production budgets.
The strategy follows the positive reception of Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company, two games that explore genres beyond the franchise's traditional action adventures and shooters.
According to Reilly, Lucasfilm Games wants to find development partners capable of creating compelling experiences within the Star Wars universe, regardless of whether they operate as major publishers or smaller independent teams.
The approach could lead to more experimental games featuring different gameplay systems, settings, and storytelling styles.
Lucasfilm Games Wants More Star Wars Games From Smaller Studios
During a recent interview, Douglas Reilly discussed how Lucasfilm Games chooses development partners for future Star Wars projects.
Reilly explained that major AAA productions remain important to the company's long term strategy.
Large franchises such as Star Wars: Battlefront will continue to represent an essential part of its gaming plans.
However, Lucasfilm Games also recognizes opportunities to create smaller experiences that explore different aspects of the Star Wars universe.
Instead of limiting partnerships to the industry's largest companies, Lucasfilm wants to consider proposals from smaller developers with relevant experience.
This could include AA studios and established independent teams capable of delivering high quality games without the resources required for blockbuster productions.
Reilly emphasized that choosing the right developer matters more than the size of the studio.
The company is therefore exploring projects across different budgets and genres.
However, this does not mean Lucasfilm Games intends to lower its quality standards.
Reilly explained that the company generally prefers experienced developers with established track records, even when considering smaller projects.
The aim is to identify teams that understand how to translate their creative ideas into successful Star Wars experiences.
Galactic Racer and Zero Company Show the Potential of Different Genres
The positive reception of Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company provides examples of the variety Lucasfilm Games wants to encourage.
Both titles use familiar Star Wars settings while adopting substantially different gameplay systems.
Galactic Racer focuses on competitive racing, combining vehicle customization with roguelike inspired progression.
The game explores the franchise's racing possibilities through environments and characters connected to the broader Star Wars universe.
Zero Company takes a different approach by introducing tactical, turn based combat.
Set during the Clone Wars era, it combines strategic encounters with a narrative focused on events within that period of Star Wars history.
Both games have received favorable reviews, suggesting that the franchise can appeal to different audiences without relying exclusively on traditional action games.
Here is how the two releases compare.
| Game | Main genre | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Galactic Racer | Racing and roguelike | Vehicle customization, competitive racing, progression systems |
| Star Wars: Zero Company | Tactical strategy | Turn based combat, squad tactics, Clone Wars setting |
Their reception provides additional support for Lucasfilm's interest in exploring genres that have not received as much attention in recent Star Wars games.
AAA Star Wars Games Will Remain Part of the Strategy
Although Lucasfilm Games is expanding its approach to partnerships, the company is not abandoning large productions.
Reilly specifically identified major games such as Battlefront as an important part of the franchise's future.
These projects typically require substantial development resources, larger teams, and advanced technology.
They can also serve a broad audience through recognizable gameplay formats such as first person and third person shooting.
However, relying exclusively on these productions could limit the types of stories and experiences available within the franchise.
Smaller teams may be better suited to projects that focus on specific gameplay concepts.
For example, a strategy focused developer could create a tactical Star Wars experience, while a studio specializing in racing games might develop a project built around the franchise's vehicles.
The approach allows Lucasfilm Games to select developers based on their expertise rather than requiring every project to fit a single production model.
It also creates opportunities for games aimed at more specialized audiences.
Knights of the Old Republic Remake and Fate of the Old Republic Remain in Development
Lucasfilm Games already has several major Star Wars projects in development.
One of the most anticipated is the remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
Saber Interactive has confirmed that the project remains in development, although detailed release information has not been announced.
Another upcoming title is Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic.
The project is being developed by Arcnaut Studios, with Casey Hudson, known for directing the original Mass Effect trilogy, involved in its creation.
These projects demonstrate that Lucasfilm continues investing in story driven Star Wars games alongside its interest in smaller productions.
Both titles also reflect the company's willingness to explore different periods within the franchise's extensive fictional history.
However, the companies have not provided complete release schedules for these projects.
Star Wars Battlefront 3 Is Still Unconfirmed
Reports have also suggested that Bungie and DICE are interested in pursuing a new Star Wars: Battlefront project.
According to recent claims, the studios are actively exploring the possibility of Battlefront 3.
However, no official announcement has confirmed that the game has entered development.
The reports should therefore be treated as speculation rather than confirmation of a new installment.
Battlefront remains one of the franchise's best known gaming series, particularly because of its large scale battles and multiplayer gameplay.
A new installment could fit Lucasfilm's continued interest in AAA productions.
Nevertheless, Reilly's comments do not confirm that a new Battlefront game is being produced or that either studio has secured a development agreement.
Independent Developers Could Bring New Ideas to Star Wars
One of the most important aspects of Lucasfilm's strategy is its willingness to consider pitches from a wider range of developers.
Smaller studios often specialize in particular gameplay mechanics or genres, giving them opportunities to create experiences that differ from traditional blockbuster games.
This could encourage additional projects involving strategy, racing, exploration, or other gameplay formats.
However, Lucasfilm Games has not announced specific new titles resulting from this expanded partnership approach.
Reilly indicated that the company is exploring projects of different sizes with development partners that may surprise fans.
The comments suggest that Lucasfilm wants to increase creative variety while maintaining the quality associated with the Star Wars franchise.
The success of Galactic Racer and Zero Company has also demonstrated that established fictional settings can support substantially different gameplay experiences.
For players, the strategy could eventually provide a broader selection of Star Wars games, including projects that would be less likely to receive funding under a strategy focused exclusively on major AAA releases.
Lucasfilm Games has not disclosed when these potential partnerships will be announced, but its leadership has made clear that developer experience, project quality, and the proposed gaming experience will guide future decisions rather than studio size alone.
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