Star Warsgames are getting more and more commonplace nowadays. Whether they’re telling new stories such asStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderor revisiting old franchises likeStar Wars Battlefront, lots of studios are getting in on the current excitement aroundStar Wars.Against the odds, evenStar Wars: The Force Unleashedhas staged a comeback, now that Lucasfilm and Aspyr have remastered the 2008 classic for the Nintendo Switch. Fans ofStar Wars: The Force Unleashedcan now relive Starkiller’s story, complete with motion controls adapted from the Wii.
TheForce Unleashedremaster is exciting, but it inevitably raises questions about the future of the franchise.The Force Unleashed 3hasn’t shown any clear signs of life in recent years, andDisney’s restructuring ofStar Warscanonin the last decade has pushed Starkiller’s story into non-canonical territory. In spite of all these past obstacles, though, the time has never been better forThe Force Unleashed 3to finally get made. From the need for closure on Starkiller’s fate to the wealth of newStar Warslore that it could feature, there are plenty of reasons forThe Force Unleashed 3to get another chance.
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Redeeming The Force Unleashed
Although the originalForce Unleashedis a classic in the eyes of manyStar Warsfans,The Force Unleashed 2left a sour taste in the mouths of many. Its gameplay didn’t quite live up to the excitement of the firstForce Unleashed,and the short story didn’t resonate with fans or critics in the same way as the strong story from the first game. Due to this mixed reception,The Force Unleashed 2doesn’t reflect all too positively on the overarching franchise. It also doesn’t help thatThe Force Unleashed 2ends on a major cliffhangerthat never got answered after LucasArts' closure gotThe Force Unleashed 3canceled.
The complicated legacy ofThe Force Unleashed 2makes a strong case for a third game in the series.Star Warsfans would love to see the IP make a rebound, even if it’s many years overdue; a high-quality game that makes up for the lackluster combat and writing ofForce Unleashed 2could restore the franchise’s overall reputation. Fans may still holdwarm memories of the firstForce Unleashed,but it would be nice if fans could praiseThe Force Unleashed 2for successfully serving as a gateway to a third game, despite its various flaws.
Star Wars Lore Has Grown
Disney’s acquisition of theStar WarsIP may have gottenThe Force Unleashed 3canceled once before, but it could actually provide good cause for a third game now. Under Disney’s direction,Star Warslore has grown dramatically.The origins of the Rebellionhave been rewritten in major detail, Mandalorians have gotten even more visibility than they had inForce Unleashed’s time, and the machinations of the Empire are more fleshed out than ever before.Star Warshas really blossomed thanks to Disney, even though several promisingStar Warsprojects had to be canceled to make that happen.
The Force Unleashed 3would be a great game to make now because of all the otherStar Warslore that’s cropping up lately.Force Unleashedmay be non-canonical, but its story could still allow a developer to tell stories about an alternate timeline forStar Warscanon. For instance, it would be interesting to see howfan favorite Ahsoka Tanofactors into theForce Unleasheduniverse, or what the protagonists ofStar Wars: Rebelsare up to in a world with a different Rebellion. These characters and many more could inspire an excellentForce Unleashed 3that blends newStar Warscanon with a highly distinct setting.
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A New Generation of Star Wars Games
Of course, the remaster ofStar Wars: The Force Unleashedis also a very important reason that the time is right forForce Unleashed 3.The game’s arrival on the Switch means that lots of youngerStar Warsfans who never got to playForce Unleashedin its heyday are likely newly interested in this franchise, meaning there’s a growing market forForce Unleashed 3.What’s more,theForce Unleashedremaster’s mixed reviewsare actually a good reason for a third game too. The franchise is certainly showing its age in the remaster, but that just means that it’s time for a developer to bringStar Wars: The Force Unleashedup to date in an innovative new game.
BeyondForce Unleashed’s newfound relevance, the broader rising tide ofStar Warstitles means the time is right for anotherForce Unleashedtitle as well.Tons of differentStar Warsgamesare in the making right now; Ubisoft has plans for an open worldStar Warstitle, Aspyr is remakingKnights of the Old Republic,and Respawn has no less than threeStar Warsprojects on the market. While this may make it seem like the market is too highly populated forForce Unleashedto enter, the contrary may be true.Star Warshype looks like it’ll remain high for the next several years, andForce Unleashed’s unique story gives it the necessary tools to compete with other games.
Force Unleashed 3’s Prospects
All things considered,The Force Unleashed 3seems like it could be a great addition to the currentStar Warsgame lineup, but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem all too likely that it’s going to rear its head.The Force Unleashedmay simply be too gritty for Disney’s liking, as well as too contradictory toStar Warscanon to revisit. In that way,The Force Unleashedadmittedly has a significant disadvantage compared to newer, more canon-friendly games such asStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Nevertheless, the broader context ofStar Warsmedia andThe Force Unleashed’s overall journey make a strong case for a third game.The Force Unleashedmay no longer have a place in the officialStar Warsstory, but it’s still interesting to experiment with alternate takes on theStar Warsworld. After all, that’s whatStar Wars: Visionsand other non-canon projectshave already accomplished in recent years. Regardless of its complicated legacy and canon issues,The Force Unleasheddeserves a second chance.The Force Unleashed 3may be all that’s needed to restore the franchise to its former glory.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashedis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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