{
  "id": 15759475,
  "title": "Disney Finally Has a Plan To Save Star Wars, but There’s a Catch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/disney-finally-has-a-plan-to-save-star-wars-but-theres-a-catch",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-20T15:30:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Polygon",
    "slug": "polygon",
    "url": "https://www.polygon.com/star-wars-video-games-lucasfilm-disney/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Star Wars celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027, the franchise's reputation appears to be on a rollercoaster. While it has achieved some successes, such as Andor's Emmy win and Maul: Shadow Lord, its recent lows have made it difficult to imagine expectations dropping any further. Moreover, the future of Star Wars, particularly in terms of TV and film projects, seems unexciting. Many of these projects appear dormant, while others follow familiar paths like the Skywalker saga. However, there is hope for Star Wars, and it lies with Lucasfilm Games and its open-minded approach to the franchise. In 2013, Lucasfilm Games signed a 10-year exclusive licensing agreement with Disney and EA, allowing them to publish Star Wars games. This exclusivity ended in 2023, giving Lucasfilm Games more freedom in creating Star Wars-related content. In an interview with The Game Business Show, Lucasfilm Games executive Douglas Reilly highlighted the importance of being flexible in accepting pitches from various sources. \"Good ideas can come from a lot of different places,\" Reilly said. \"You don't have to be a top five publisher to make a great Star Wars game.\" Reilly's prediction has proven accurate, as Star Wars fans have received two noteworthy games in 2026 alone. Star Wars: Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game set during the final days of The Clone Wars, while Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an arcade racer with roguelike elements. Reilly expects more projects from both large and small partners, and he believes these projects will continue to surprise fans. For instance, fans might be surprised by a Star Wars fighting game. Lucasfilm Games' willingness to consider a broader range of pitches benefits everyone. While games like Galactic Racer and Zero Company draw on established elements such as The Clone Wars and The Phantom Menace, they avoid over-relying on nostalgia, which could alienate fans. Zero Company follows Hawks, a character seeking solace in a group of outcasts, while Galactic Racer focuses on a rivalry between two racers. These games center around their unique characters and genres, offering fresh experiences to Star Wars fans. This approach contrasts sharply with the unsatisfying attempts to answer unrelated questions in The Mandalorian and other spin-offs. By relying too heavily on explanations, these series unintentionally made the Star Wars universe feel smaller. The upcoming Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2, co-produced by co-president Dave Filoni, may offer more character development but risks making the universe feel too small. Meanwhile, Shawn Levy's Starfighter, set to release in 2027, takes the franchise further into the timeline. This cautious optimism surrounding Starfighter and the success of other Lucasfilm Games projects suggests a promising future for Star Wars. With the open-minded approach of Lucasfilm Games and the enthusiasm of fans, this franchise may finally find the excitement and innovation it needs to thrive.",
  "summary": "Lucasfilm's path is moving Star Wars away from relying on nostalgia and toward greater flexibility. Now Star Wars TV and film need to follow suit.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}