Star Wars: Squadrons is a little bit over a month away from finally becoming hitting store shelves, and the developers have done a pretty good job managing to keep players excited for the upcoming title, which is saying a lot considering that Electronic Arts managed to alienate the Star Wars fanbase at one point.
Electronic Arts has had a pretty interesting redemption arc in regards to Star Wars games, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was the game that made longtime fans of the series trust the publisher again, since they proved that they were allowing developers, in this case Respawn Entertainment, realise their own vision they had for the game.
Both the announcement and gameplay trailers for Star Wars: Squadrons were well received by fans, especially when the developers at Motive Studios revealed that the game would also support VR. The cherry on top, however, is that the game will also be releasing on next-gen consoles; no free upgrade, though, but still excellent news.
In the latest entry on Electronic Arts' official blog for the game, the developers at Motive Studios reveal that Star Wars: Squadrons will allow players to fully customise their starfighters, and even add some nice cosmetics to their ship's cockpit with Stormtrooper helmets hanging from above, and cool-looking holograms, even.
"Whether you want to represent one of the classic iconic X-wing squadrons like Red Squadron, stay true to the noble values of Vanguard Squadron, or rep an entirely different paint job, you'll be able to do so. The same goes for the Imperial fleet. While many pilots may prefer the uniform look, we also have some special customization options for Titan Squadron’s starfighters that remain true to the Empire's aesthetic.
"That includes your cockpit as well. You'll be able to add small knick-knacks on your dashboard, like a hologram of the galaxy, or hang a small Stormtrooper helmet from above. There are lots of little options that you can decorate with and, despite being inside, your enemies will get to see them when they watch a kill-cam of their defeat. While our singleplayer story seats you in traditional cockpits for each mission, we’re allowing players to have more creative liberties in their multiplayer experience. (The hanging red crystal from the mines of Crait is a personal favorite.)
Starfighters can customize their hull/paint job, decals (including familiar insignias like the Phoenix Squadron’s starbird), cockpit hologram, dashboard miniatures, and hanging flair. That said, we know some of our players won’t want any of it and prefer to see starfighters that match what they’ve seen in the films, so we’ve implemented an option for you to make it so all other starfighters appear in their default states if that’s your preference."
Here's where things get a lot more interesting, since the cockpit hologram will give the game an even more "Star Warsy" feel in line with the rich universe created by George Lucas. According to Lead Gameplay Designer James Clement, "The holo-display, normally used to provide critical phase and objective information throughout the Fleet Battles, doubles as a customizable image projector."
Star Wars: Squadrons doesn't only allow players to customise their ship, as they will also be able to customise their pilot's appearance for both single-player and multiplayer — with cosmetics that can be unlocked via Glory Points that can be obtained by simply playing the game.
"You'll be able to get pretty creative with how your pilot looks with options for different heads, full-body flight suits, torso apparel, legwear, helmets, and gloves. The team has sourced a ton of references from across the Star Wars™ canon to ensure they’re as authentic as possible while also introducing some new things. Whether you want a traditional look or something that makes you stand out in the briefing room, there are lots of options for you," reads the latest Pilot Briefing on Electronic Arts' blog.
All of these little details that the developers at Motive Studios have been adding to Star Wars: Squadrons will really make the game stand out as what will likely be one of the most immersive Star Wars games out there. We simply cannot wait to see what they add next.
Buckle up, take full control of starfighters such as the X-wing and TIE fighter, and feel the adrenaline of strategic first-person 5v5 multiplayer dogfights alongside your squadron. In a fateful campaign set near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War, learn what it means to be a pilot in a thrilling STAR WARS™ single-player story. The New Republic fights for freedom. The Empire demands order. We need you to join the galaxy’s finest.
Star Wars: Squadrons will release for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on Friday the 2nd of October.