Walt Disney and Electronic Arts announced plans to develop and publish a new series of Star Wars game titles for the next few years.
“Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe,” said EA Labels President Frank Gibeau. “Three of our top studios will fulfill that dream, crafting epic adventures for Star Wars fans. DICE and Visceral will produce new games, joining the BioWare team which continues to develop for the Star Wars franchise. The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay.”
While Electronic Arts’ component teams handle the console market for Star Wars titles, Disney retains certain rights to the mobile, tablet, and online spheres. While the agreement will span years, no financial details were disclosed.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating quality game experiences that drive the popularity of the Star Wars franchise for years to come,” said John Pleasants, Co-President of Disney Interactive. “Collaborating with one of the world’s premier game developers will allow us to bring an amazing portfolio of new Star Wars titles to our fans around the world.”
BioWare has experience handling the Star Wars IP, but Visceral Games on a Star Wars title is a new and interesting touch. So is the news that new titles will span a variety of genres. After years of stereotypical re-enactments of the Battle of Hoth, Gibeau’s statement might be some cause for cautious optimism about genuinely new material. Alongside the plans for a multitude of new films, this may give long-suffering fans of Star Wars some New Hope.
Quotes taken from the original press release.