Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has become one of the most anticipated Star Wars games in a very long time, due in no small part to the tremendous success of 2019's Jedi: Fallen Order. Fans were recently treated to a new story trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, reuniting fans with Cal Kestis, Merrin, and others as they continue their fight against the Empire. This trailer gave a greater sense of what's at stake in Jedi: Survivor, conveying the Stinger Mantis crew's fight for a sense of security, as well as showing more of who will get in the way of that.
For many Star Wars fans, the unfamiliar robes and unexpected changes to the Mantis crew in Jedi: Survivor's newest trailer were anything but. That's because Jedi: Survivor is taking a page out of the book of Star Wars games like KOTOR by tying its story to books and comics set in the galaxy far, far away. It's a move that few Star Wars games have made since KOTOR, and certainly not to the same extent. This gives Jedi: Survivor a unique opportunity to establish a greater sense of context for the game's story before it releases.
How KOTOR and Jedi: Survivor Use Star Wars Books to Build Story
When Star Wars: KOTOR released in 2003, it transported players back thousands of years before the events of the Star Wars films. This was enchanting for many fans, but for others this was a time period they were already intimately familiar with. The Old Republic era in Star Wars started with the Tales of the Jedi comics published by Dark Horse from 1993 to 1998, chronicling the Great Sith War and Great Hyperspace War. KOTOR would take place just forty years after the events of these comics, and for those who read every issue, it was easier to become immersed in the game world and grasp the central conflict.
Jedi: Survivor is taking a similar approach to KOTOR and other Star Wars games that have leaned on preexisting lore. It starts with the currently unnamed character in Jedi robes, as the newest trailer confirmed that he is from the High Republic era. This is an era of Star Wars that takes place a few hundred years before the films, when the Jedi were at their strongest, and it has primarily existed through a series of popular books and comics. With this jump into gaming and the mystery around the Jedi, many gamers now have a reason to dive into the books to build an understanding for the era.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Its Tie-In Novel
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor does more than lean on the High Republic stories, as there is also a tie-in novel that provides context for what the Mantis crew has been up to between each game.Titled Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars, this novel provides answers for some of the biggest questions many fans have for Jedi: Survivor. From why Cere and Greez look so different, to what fan-favorite Merrin has been up to, Jedi: Battle Scars has become essential reading for those looking forward to Survivor.
With its connections to the High Republic and Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars tie-in novel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has built a strong foundation for its story before the game has even released. Like many other Star Wars stories, it's entirely possible most gamers will be able to pick up Jedi: Survivor and enjoy it with no prior knowledge of Star Wars lore. For those that enjoy the connectedness of games like KOTOR, however, Jedi: Survivor provides an opportunity for immersion that few games are ever so bold to provide.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases April 28 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.