Star Wars Jedi: Survivorintroduces players to a more mature Cal Kestis, and a recent interview with its Game Director highlights exactly what this means for the game’s combat and traveling mechanics. The first game firmly establishes the message that the Jedi Order has fallen, and that any attempt to bring it back through traditional means during the dark times of the Empire would be met with failure. To that end, theCal Kestis players meet inJedi: Survivorhas been shaped into an unconventional warrior.
Thelightsaber combat stances ofStar Wars Jedi: Survivorgreatly expand on the foundation established with the first game, as Cal Kestis seemingly has five different styles to choose from in the sequel. The standard single saber, dual sabers, the saber staff, a cross-guard lightsaber, and a lightsaber and blaster combo that makes Cal look more like theStar Warsequivalent of a swashbuckler than a former Padawan. AsJedi: Survivor’s release date looms in the coming months, fans are getting a clear picture of the features and gameplay that await them in the sequel game.
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This time around, Game Director Stig Asmussen sat down with Game Informer to discuss the details ofhowJedi: Survivor’s gameplay evolved fromFallen Order. Asmussen claims that the new enemies inJedi: Survivorwill each have particular strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the five different saber styles that Cal can employ. Fans who opt to play on higher difficulty levels may find it extremely advantageous to switch between the stances and figure out the best way to break through the enemy’s defenses.
When asked about the new combat styles, Asmussen points out that while making use of an uncivilized weapon such as a blaster would be frowned upon during the halcyon days of the Old Republic, Cal has to do whatever it takes to survive the darkest years of the Empire. Speaking of the Old Republic,Star Wars Jedi: Survivorlets Cal construct a cross-guard lightsaber, evoking the weapons of ancient Jedi, as well as allowing players to channel their inner Kylo Ren. Stig Asmussen believes that players will have plenty of fun with that particular saber stance, as the cross-guard lightsaber’s confident approach delivers weighty, beefy swings at the expense of longer timing windows.
WhileStar Warsfans can expect to see the return of Cere Junda and BD-1, the impression seems to be thatJedi: Survivoris leaving the Mantis crew behind, and one of the new characters that joins Cal on his adventures is Bode Akuna. Asmussen describes their relationship as brotherly, with Bode’s personality being a good complement to Kestis.
The Metroidvania approach opens up even further inJedi: Survivor, as Asmussen describes mounts playing a huge factor in how players can negotiate and dominate the game world. With Cal exploring a brand-new planet that will feature heavily inJedi: Survivor’s story, all signs point that Respawn has something special in store for its fans in March 2023.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorreleases on July 19, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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