The masterminds over at Bit Reactor are cooking up something that’s going to redefine what we think about when we hear "strategy game," and yes, it’s all happening in the Star Wars galaxy.
The brains behind this galactic adventure, Daanish Syed (Art Director) and Ryan McFall (Technical Director), sat down with PC Gamer to chat about their vision. They couldn't spill all the beans on their Star Wars project, but they shared their big-picture dream: they want to bust the myth that strategy games are just for hardcore gamers. They’re on a mission to make strategy games fun and accessible for everyone, whether you're a seasoned commander or a newbie stepping into the tactical arena for the first time. As a long-time gamer who still struggles with some games, thank you.
Ryan McFall, who's previously worked on the XCOM reboot series, mentioned that there’s a whole universe of strategy game experiences out there, and they want to introduce players to the broader spectrum. Daanish Syed compared strategy games to racing games – just like how racing fans can choose between arcade racers and simulation racers, strategy gamers should have a world of options too. It's all about showing off the genre's versatility.
One of the key focus areas for the team is crafting a user interface (UI) that welcomes new players with open arms and doesn’t overwhelm them. They're designing the UI to make sure players can dive into the fun part of the game right away, without having to wade through complicated menus or controls. And speaking of controls, they're making this game friendly for all kinds of players, whether you’re wielding a mouse and keyboard, a gamepad, or even a touchscreen. Chef's kiss.
Syed is especially pumped about developing a unique visual language for the game that feels right at home in the Star Wars universe but also stands out as something fresh and new. They’re drawing inspiration from their previous work, like the celestial star charts motif from Jedi: Survivor, to craft an experience that’s visually captivating and uniquely Star Wars.
While the duo couldn’t delve into specifics about the game, they've definitely set the stage for something epic. Will it be turn-based? Real-time? Something entirely new? We'll have to wait for more updates from EA and Bit Reactor. But one thing's for sure – this isn’t going to be your average strategy game.
Get ready to command your fleets, make light-speed decisions, and immerse yourself in the Star Wars universe in a way you never have.