The Star Wars franchise has explored numerous video game genres over the years, from fast-paced third-person shooters to sophisticated strategy games. One genre that Star Wars hasn't been explored much in recent years, however, is the first-person shooter. The franchise does have experience in the FPS world in the form of classics such as Star Wars: Dark Forces and Republic Commando, but the latter released nearly twenty years ago when the genre was very different from how it is now. There hasn't been a dedicated Star Wars FPS since, but that will all be changing sooner rather than later.
Developer Respawn Entertainment, still hot off the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, has been developing a Star Wars FPS for over a year now. While there isn't so much as a title for the game, it has been reported that Respawn's Star Wars FPS will take inspiration from Dark Forces. This opens up all sorts of opportunities for gameplay that harkens back to the early days of Star Wars gaming, but Respawn has another opportunity to give fans something they've never had before. This new Star Wars FPS could finally give the franchise's bounty hunters a modern, first-person adventure.
The Potential in a Star Wars Boutny Hunter FPS
Bounty hunters have been one of the most fascinating things about Star Wars since Boba Fett first hit movie screens in The Empire Strikes Back. Their appearances in TV and film have been ubiquitous since then, but they've strangely failed to remain as prominent in Star Wars video games. Titles like Star Wars: Bounty Hunter and The Old Republic MMO have allowed players to embody these cunning opportunists, but they have always taken a back seat to the Jedi and Sith of the galaxy. For such a popular type of character in the galaxy, Star Wars games haven't exactly done them justice.
If Respawn's Star Wars FPS did let players embody a bounty hunter, its possibilities would be as wide as the galaxy it's set in. In terms of narrative, Respawn could have players take on the role of an up-and-coming bounty hunter working their way through the ranks. They could start in the seedy underbelly of Coruscant as it was shown in the canceled Star Wars 1313, and eventually reach the same prestige as bounty hunters like Jango Fett and Cad Bane. Respawn has said its FPS will be a story-driven experience, and focusing on this structure would be different from anything fans have played in a long time.
On the gameplay side of things, a Star Wars FPS centered on bounty hunters could give fans the widest arsenal of weapons they've ever seen in a Star Wars games. Bounty hunters are known for having iconic weapons that embody their personality and tactics, like Din Djarin's pulse rifle. Respawn could give players everything from blaster pistols to rocket launchers, each with their own upgrades that allow a player's weapons to grow with their bounty hunting reputation. Respawn could also provide further depth with robust player customization mechanics, similar to a game like Cyberpunk 2077.
Information on Respawn's Star Wars FPS is extremely limited, but it's hard to not see the potential in a game that focuses on bounty hunters. The Jedi, Rebellion, and Empire have gotten the spotlight in games like Star Wars Squadrons and the impending Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, while bounty hunters sit on the sidelines and act as the occasional antagonist. As more developers outside of EA's purview work on Star Wars games, fans are likely to see greater variety in the franchise's gaming experiences. Hopefully that will include a bounty hunter FPS that does justice to one of the most iconic parts of Star Wars.
Respawn's Star Wars FPS is currently in development.