Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is out next year, and the first gameplay trailer at The Game Awards showcased lots of new mechanics. In addition to new locales and abilities, Cal Kestis can use new Lightsaber stances, with director Stig Asmussen confirming five in total.
He also revealed to Game Informer that in addition to BD-1 and Cere Junda returning, there would be new characters, including Bode Akuna, a mercenary. There’s a “special bond” between him and Cal. “It’s almost like they’re brothers. And they’re not exactly the same, but they really do complement each other,” says Asmussen. In the trailer, we can see Bode helping out in combat as an AI companion, but he also aids in travel.
New traversal methods are also introduced, including an ascension cable for climbing and crossing gaps. Cal can also tame and ride mounts, as showcased in the gameplay trailer. “It’s much of a wider Metroidvania approach. Cal can cross huge gaps by chaining several types of skills together. But it’s also about how we approach these mounts and how they’re used to negotiate and dominate the world.”
There’s still a lot more under wraps, including a new enemy gang and a planet brand new in the Star Wars universe that serves as a central providing ground while also being open to exploration. Stay tuned for more details on the other worlds in the coming months.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on March 17th, 2023, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.