Caught by Mp1st, the leaked screenshots are seemingly part of the portfolio from one of the artists working on the game at Bit Reactor. The screenshots are dated to 2023, which would indicate that they are from an earlier build of the game for internal testing.

Fans of the turn-based strategy games developed by Firaxis, such as XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2, will be quite pleased with the kind of gameplay that the screenshots seemingly indicate. Along with an isometric viewpoint, one of the screenshot also shows us what combat will look like, with a Mandalorian character taking aim at a Stormtrooper.

Much like the XCOM games, the upcoming Star Wars game will also involve an element of chance to it. In the screenshot where a Stormtrooper is being targeted, for example, the Mandalorian has a hit chance of 95 percent if they were to throw a thermal detonator at their target. Overwatch also seems to be returning from the XCOM games, with one of the screenshots showing two Mandalorian characters combining their Overwatch abilities to cover a larger area.

Outside of combat, the screenshots indicate that players will get to use a home base similar to what we’ve seen in other games of the genre. This home base will allow players to take on various tasks, and includes interactive items like a Holotable where players can presumably pick their next mission, a Special Ops table that likely provides extra objectives, and an Armory table where players can kit out their Mandalorians with specific gear.

So far, no official details about the game have been revealed from Respawn Entertainment or Bit Reactor. The studios have, however, gone as far as confirming that the Star Wars game is being developed through Unreal Engine 5. This was spotted through a job listing back in March 2024 for a Senior Lighting Artist that would be able to work with the engine to create lighting for “various levels and cinematics using Lumen.”

Bit Reactor’s team up with Respawn Entertainment was announced all the way back in January 2022. The studio is made up of industry veterans like Greg Foerscth, who has previously worked on XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2.

As announced on the official Star Wars website, the upcoming Star Wars Celebration event in Japan will bring the official reveal of Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars game. More specifically, on April 19, we’ll get our first look at game, which is described as a “turn-based tactics game.”

Previously, it was confirmed that the title is being developed on Unreal Engine 5. The last time we heard from its developers in an official capacity was in March last year, when Bit Reactor offered assurances that the project hadn’t been impacted by the layoffs at EA, which is publishing the game.

Stay tuned for more details on the game in the coming weeks.

But before we get to its misfires, let’s first see what Aspyr has improved and added to this remaster. While Jedi Power Battles originally released on the PlayStation, its Dreamcast version is considered superior; this remaster is based on the Dreamcast version’s source code. Aspyr has combined elements of both versions, notably preserving the UI elements from the PlayStation version as well as several graphical details in the levels.

"Jedi also have the advantage of deflecting blaster shots, something that is really satisfying to pull off due to the tight timing required."

The graphics have improved resolution and razor-sharp texture, as is expected in any remaster, but the lack of a classic graphic toggle is somewhat unfortunate. Also, unfortunate is the lack of save states coupled with a single save file per account. As far as brand-new content, we get 13 new playable characters in addition to the original Dreamcast roster, adding to 22 characters total. Lightsaber colors can now be toggled to represent their ‘canon’ version, which is great for fans of Mace Windu and his purple saber.

Speaking of lightsabers, this game does a fairly good job putting you in the shoes of a jedi (or sith) with the simple yet satisfying combo system. Each jedi has three distinct attacks that can be combined with each other so long as you unlock said combo. Some players would prefer if all combos were available from the start, but I respect the sense of progression that unlocking them adds to the game. You also get an upgrade to either health or force power each time you complete a stage with a character.

Jedi are further differentiated by their unique Force abilities. While some attacks can feel similar across the characters, their force abilities change the playstyle up in a more noticeable way. Obi-Wan’s lightning-speed Force Saber Dash cuts groups of droids in one swift motion – making it great for aggressive AOE style of play. Meanwhile, Ki-Adi-Mundi employs mind control which stuns enemies for a brief period, representing his methodical and patient demeanor.

Jedi also have the advantage of deflecting blaster shots, something that is really satisfying to pull off due to the tight timing required. My only real issue with the progression system in Jedi Power Battles is that each account only gets one total save for all progression within the game. This means that if you select ‘new game’ and confirm, it’ll completely overwrite all progress with your save file. This is something that I mistakenly did after leveling up Qui-Gon three times; it’s just far too easy to overwrite and erase all your progress by accident. The single save file limitation is certainly something the remaster could’ve remedied.

But hey, at least all the secret characters from the Dreamcast version are available right from the beginning in this remaster, right? Yeah, that is nice, especially since I enjoy Ki-Adi-Mundi’s mind tricks, however a majority of the secret characters you unlock later don’t feel as varied and worthwhile as the jedi do. The droids and Tusken Raider have similar blaster and melee attacks, while others like the Droideka thankfully feature unique abilities. It’s also a cool novelty to play as Jar-Jar and hear his infamous howling while falling off a Coruscant skyscraper. Besides different attacks, each character has their own attack power, speed, and health, making them feel distinct enough from one another.

"All the secret characters from the Dreamcast version are available right from the beginning"

Unlocking all those secret characters can be a bit of a pain, though, considering how janky and rough the controls and level design are. Oh, no, I’m not speaking of the classic control scheme, that is borderline unplayable (even if I appreciate its inclusion). The modernized controls still feel rigid and unresponsive. The perfect example of this is the infuriating dash skid that every character does when stopping after a run. The skid animation locks out the ability to jump or attack until it is finished, something that resulted in many early game deaths. Of course, one can just get used to it after a while, but it exemplifies an archaic rigidness in movement that is difficult to overlook considering the amount of precision platforming the game demands of the player.

To the game’s credit, each of the 10 levels vary in their platforming and enemy challenges, and all can be played right from the start. One stage you’re atop the highest skyscrapers of Coruscant where any misstep spells instant death, and the next you’re simply shimmying over rotundas and balconies. Driving around an AAT was such a power trip back when this came out, and I’ve got to say, it still feels great today even though it’s brief. Running over droids and blowing up enemy AATs is a blast thanks to the great swivel gun and vehicle movement, if only regular character movement was as fun. If there’s one thing Phantom Menace haters can agree on, it’s the well-realized setting and environments, and Jedi Power Battles does its best to translate this to its action-platformer beat-em-up DNA.

But even as an unapologetic Episode 1 fan who can’t help but grin while journeying through the film’s scenarios and locations, I just couldn’t enjoy the experience as much as I wanted to. For one, the lack of a discernable character shadow while jumping makes it difficult to judge distance. Characters also descend like a brick, rendering last-second adjustments next to impossible.

Oh, and there’s fall damage on top of that. While the game mostly sticks to a side-scrolling perspective, it often requires three-dimensional movement within that space. This would be fine if many ledges and balconies weren’t gated off by invisible walls. The game doesn’t do a good job telling the player what area is off-limits or can’t be interacted with, causing many invisible wall deaths and the like. Helping to ease the platforming irritants are the remaster’s improvements to jump height and distance. It’s nice that Aspyr has tried to smooth out the experience where they could, but only so much can be done to elevate the core controls and level design.

An example of rough level design is the counter-intuitive guidance of where to go next. Take the changing camera perspective when entering the bridge area of the Trade Federation Ship. The level has been progressing from left to right up until that point, with no indication you’re suddenly expected to go left after a complete perspective change. I can’t be the only one who wasted time and lives continuing on to the right only to loop back to previous zones fighting respawned droids over and over. In a similar vein, scripted events sometimes occur during gameplay, causing changes to the stage such as an exploding platform or basted entryway.

Coruscant has one such event while balancing atop a car. Despite my best attempts to avoid a plumet to my death, the car platform I’m on gets hit by another vehicle out of absolutely nowhere. These instances are pure trial and error and next to impossible to prepare for if you haven’t played before, resulting in an annoying trial and error experience.

Some other annoyances that compound the rough level design are unskippable scenes, limited lives per level, and the occasional poorly paced checkpoint. The ability to use save states anywhere in a level could’ve helped alleviate the irritating design elements a bit, but I guess if Mega Man X Legacy Collection didn’t add that, I shouldn’t expect Aspyr to add it for Jedi Power Battles.

"Jedi Power Battles can be a fun time if you’re a fan of action-platforming beat-em-ups or have a co-op partner to play with."

Finally, I have to mention the boss fights. Minibosses and level bosses comprise the real difficulty cliff in Jedi Power Battles. There’s typically a med pack or two in any boss arena to aid in your stun-locking struggle. The two flamethrower droids really gave me headache with their incessant stun-locking and obscure hurt box. It’s difficult to judge the distance between the flames and your character and the imprecise control movement doesn’t help matters. Oh, and that Tatooine escort level with Anakin? Oof, the close rubber banding that Anakin has with your character combined with friendly fire makes for a dreadful combo in escort mission design.

I could go on about little issues that I’ve had here and there, but you probably get the idea. While Aspyr did a pretty good job eliminating bugs and glitches that plagued the original game, Jedi Power Battles still suffers from its intrinsic level design failures. Jedi Power Battles can be a fun time if you’re a fan of action-platforming beat-em-ups or have a co-op partner to play with, but its irritants outweigh the nostalgic charm and novelty pretty fast.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

That’s as per Twitter user @bogorad222, who has claimed that the strategy title is going to be announced at this year’s Star Wars Celebration event, which is scheduled to take place in Japan from April 18-20. The game will allegedly release for PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, though it’s claimed that its full release lineup is “TBD”, which could potentially suggest a Nintendo Switch 2 version as well. Additionally, in its own report, Insider Gaming claims to have seen “sufficient evidence” from @bogorad222 to deem the leak “genuine”.

Little is known about Bit Reactor’s Star Wars title right now, other than the fact that it is being developed on Unreal Engine 5. After Respawn Entertainment suffered layoffs last year and ended up cancelling another unannounced Star Wars project, Bit Reactor assured everyone that its own project had remained “unaffected”.

I got some details (regarding the upcoming Respawn Star Wars RTS game )
There will be a public announcement and trailer released during Star Wars Celebration in Japan (April 18-20)
Aimed Platforms are Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Store. The true lineup is TBD
🤫

— Timur222 (@bogorad222) January 17, 2025

As spotted by a Reddit user, Bit Reactor recently put up a job listing for the position of a Senior Lighting Artist, and the ad would suggest the studio’s strategy title is being built on Unreal Engine 5, with “lighting various levels and cinematics using Lumen in Unreal Engine 5” listed as one of the role’s responsibilities. On top of that, the listing also mentions “experience working within Unreal Engine 4+” as one of the non-requisite bonuses the studio is looking for in applicants.

Meanwhile, the job ad also suggests that the game will also launch for consoles – something you wouldn’t necessarily always take for granted with strategy games – with “experience working on a AAA title, especially a console title” listed as another nice-to-have.

When Bit Reactor’s Star Wars strategy game was confirmed to be in development in 2022, EA revealed that Respawn Entertainment was also working on a single-player Star Wars first-person shooter. As part of EA’s recent mass layoffs, however, the latter – which was rumoured to feature a Mandalorian bounty hunter as its protagonist – was cancelled. Shortly afterward, Bit Reactor stated that its strategy game’s development hadn’t been impacted by EA’s layoffs.

There haven’t been any announcements or news regarding Bit Reactor, led by XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 art director Greg Foerscth and working on a new Star Wars strategy game. In a new tweet, the developer said, “Last week was difficult for the industry, and more so because of our strong relationships within the other teams at Respawn.

“But for those asking, we are still hard at work, and our game was unaffected by last week’s news.” When asked when fans could get their first look at the game, it responded, “As soon as it’s ready…”

Details on the new title are still pending, so stay tuned for further updates. As for future Star Wars titles, the next Star Wars Jedi title is in the works, though director Stig Asmussen left the studio last year. During Ocala Comic Con in September 2023, actor Cameron Monaghan (who plays Cal Kestis) said the project is a “big undertaking”, but hopefully, when all is said and done, “We’ll be able to go in and make something really cool.”

Last week was difficult for the industry, and more so because of our strong relationships within the other teams at Respawn.
But for those asking, we are still hard at work, and our game was unaffected by last week's news.

— BIT REACTOR (@bitreactor) March 2, 2024

As soon as it's ready…

— BIT REACTOR (@bitreactor) March 2, 2024

Players would allegedly control a Mandalorian bounty hunter, but not the same as that from the titular Disney+ series. It had a hub called The Den where players could access their upgrade terminal, armory, a map of the galaxy and their ship, with bounties to select and pursue.

Though it offered linear level progression, the title featured larger open areas for bounties and “other secrets.” In addition to extensive mobility courtesy of a jetpack, there was reportedly a takedown feature akin to DOOM’s Glory Kills.

Stormtroopers were a major threat, with various types wielding shotguns, sniper rifles, rockets, etc. You could also face bosses like AT-STs, with different planets having unique threats like outlaw gangs and rival bounty hunters. Henderson notes it was “still a ways off” from launch but had “a fairly polished vertical slice and a few other missions/levels near completion.”

The project’s cancellation followed news of layoffs at Electronic Arts for about 670 employees and the closure of Ridgeline Studios. It’s looking to focus on “new projects based on our owned brands while providing support for existing games.” It likely includes a follow-up to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, with lead actor Cameron Monaghan confirming its development in September 2023. Stay tuned for a possible announcement in the future.

In a statement published by EA’s president of entertainment and technology Laura Miele, it has been announced that Respawn Entertainment will be affected by EA’s restructuring plans. More specifically, the single player Star Wars FPS that the studio was confirmed to be working on in 2022 has been cancelled. Instead, EA says the studio will refocus its efforts on the Star Wars Jedi series and Apex Legends.

“Respawn’s unique ability to connect with players and create exceptional game experiences is unrivaled in entertainment,” Miele wrote in her statement. “As we’ve looked at Respawn’s portfolio over the last few months, what’s clear is the games our players are most excited about are Jedi and Respawn’s rich library of owned brands. Knowing this, we have decided to pivot away from early development on a Star Wars FPS Action game to focus our efforts on new projects based on our owned brands while providing support for existing games. It’s always hard to walk away from a project, and this decision is not a reflection of the team’s talent, tenacity, or passion they have for the game. Giving fans the next installments of the iconic franchises they want is the definition of blockbuster storytelling and the right place to focus.”

Job listings published by Respawn had indicated that its single player Star Wars FPS would have been inspired by the Star Wars: Dark Forces titles. A more recent report claimed that it would see players playing as a Mandalorian bounty hunter.

As for Star Wars Jedi, Cameron Monaghan – the actor who portrays series protagonist Cal Kestis – confirmed last September that a third instalment was in development, though EA has yet to officially announce it. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor director Stig Asmussen left Respawn last year.

Amidst EA’s layoffs, Ridgeline Games, which was established in 2021 to work on single player Battlefield campaigns, has been shut down entirely.

As per Henderson, Respawn’s single player Star Wars FPS is a Mandalorian game where players will be playing as a bounty hunter. Set during the Galactic Empire’s reign (so between Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi), the game will see players tracking bounties across the galaxy and being tasked with bringing them in either dead or alive.

To be clear, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a game based on the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. Whether you’re playing as its protagonist Din Djarin, as fan-favourite Star Wars character Boba Fett, or an entirely new Mandalorian bounty hunter character is currently unclear.

Either way, that premise will bleed over into the gameplay, as you might imagine. As per Insider Gaming’s report, players will have access to a variety of weapons, gadgets, and tools, including a grappling hook, a visor to tag enemies, a wrist rocket, and, of course, a jetpack.

The latter in particular will allow for quick and kinetic gameplay, as per the report, with an emphasis being placed on speed and style, thanks to a variety of movement and traversal options being available, from dashes and jumps to boost sliding and more. Players will be rewarded for focusing on style, and allegedly, the health regeneration mechanic will be tied to stringing together successive kills.

The report goes on to state that the game isn’t going to be open world, and will instead see players navigating a series of linear levels set in different locations and planets. Whether or not multiplayer will be included is currently unknown, though past job ads have suggested that it’s at least being considered.

As per Henderson, the game is still in the early stages of development, and, as such, “a year or two” away from launch “at the very least”.

Past job listings posted by Respawn have also indicated that the game is going to be “inspired by classic titles like Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2.” Read more on that through here.

Henderson will have a report with more information (though it may take a while), but it isn’t Star Wars Battlefront 3. It could be the first-person shooter helmed by Peter Hirschmann, who worked as executive producer on the original Star Wars Battlefront series. He stated that the title would be a “new FPS in the Star Wars galaxy” and feature “a story I have always wanted to tell.”

While everyone may assume The Mandalorian, it could even be a Boba Fett title, which Visceral Games’ Star Wars 1313 was reportedly supposed to be before its cancellation. Job listings from last year indicated it’s taking inspiration from Star Wars: Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2, so it may be a sequel to those titles.

As for other Star Wars titles, Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws is coming this fiscal year, while Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake is reportedly in the works at Saber Interactive. Respawn is also working to bring Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to Xbox One and PS4, while Bit Reactor is developing a strategy game with XCOM 2 art director Greg Foerscth at the helm.

No, but Respawn is cooking a Star Wars singleplayer experience I think a lot of people have wanted for a long time. https://t.co/CRKqADcU89

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) February 15, 2024

Will do an @InsiderGamingIG report when I finalize some details.

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) February 15, 2024

When I can corroborate. Could be tomorrow, could be next year ha

— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) February 15, 2024