Star Wars: Squadrons Brings Space Combat to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Finding consensus within the Star Wars universe is a difficult task, but if asked which is the best space combat simulator, almost everyone points to X-Wing and TIE Fighter, two titles with more than 25 years under their belts. That’s why we’re very interested in the announcement of Star Wars: Squadrons, developed by Motive Studios. There’s no doubt that this new game seeks to capture the essence of those classics, and the folks at EA have made some decisions that will likely sit well with potential players…

A Legacy of Space Combat

I remember playing (and finishing) TIE Fighter back in the day, and it left us all with our mouths open. It’s never easy to carry the Star Wars label, but it did so while maintaining a great balance with the canon (of that time), and it was also a solid space combat simulator.

Logically, Electronic Arts tried more than once to reproduce those successes (it’s worth remembering that EA had no relationship with Star Wars in the mid-90s), but it never fully succeeded. In fact, I’d venture to say the company made serious mistakes along the way; however, the resounding success of Fallen Order suggests a change of course, and so we arrive at the official announcement of Star Wars: Squadrons.

The hand behind Squadrons is Motive Studios, and if you notice some familiar elements (Battlefront II, perhaps?), you’re not wrong. Chronologically, Squadrons’ story takes place after the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star. The single-player campaign shifts between two squadrons, Titan (Imperial Remnants) and Vanguard (New Republic), controlling two pilots that you can customize.

The attention to cockpit detail is notable, and you’ll need to absorb each of them, especially if you plan to enter the multiplayer arena. The trailer confirms eight available ships (fighters, interceptors, bombers, and support, two per category), with squads of five pilots working together… or behaving chaotically as is typical in online matches. The 'Skirmish' mode proposes a direct 5v5 encounter between ships, but 'Fleet Battles' demand superior strategy, resolving multiple phases during combat.

Players will unlock additional weapons, components, and cosmetic items just by playing. In other words, Squadrons has no microtransactions. Other positive aspects to highlight are VR support on PC and PlayStation 4, crossplay across all compatible platforms, and finally, the game won’t be exclusive to Origin (though I imagine installing the client will be mandatory), and it will extend its presence to Steam and the Epic Game Store. Pre-orders have already begun, with its formal debut confirmed for the next October 2nd.

Official site: Click here