Get ready to hop in your X-Wing or TIE Fighter, because a new Star Wars dogfighting game is herel. Star Wars: Squadrons is a first-person space combat game that will let you engage in sprawling 5-on-5 multiplayer battles between the New Republic and the Galactic Empire in a story set just after Return of the Jedi.
EA's Star Wars game will also offer a single-player campaign, as well as full crossplay between consoles, PC and even virtual reality platforms. Ready to strap in? Here's everything we know about Star Wars: Squadrons.
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Star Wars: Squadrons trailer
The debut cinematic trailer for Star Wars: Squadrons is filled with intense dogfights, and teases a story that focuses on the dawn of the New Republic as it battles a dwindling Galactic Empire. Check it out right here:
The Star Wars: Squadrons debut gameplay trailer provides a much deeper dive on what to expect, detailing both the game's single player campaign as well as its various multiplayer modes:
If you want a taste of how the Star Wars Squadron campaign will play out, the single-player trailer below will give you a pretty good idea. This clip shows what a pre-mission briefing will look like, as well as some gameplay footage of the Empire attacking the New Republic. Oh, and Wedge Antilles gets a cameo. Neat!
Star Wars: Squadrons release date
Star Wars: Squadrons released on PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 2, 2020 for $39.99. Better yet, the game supports full cross-play multiplayer across all platforms, and will be fully playable in VR on PS4 and PC.
PC players have the option of picking the game up on Origin, Steam and the Epic Games store.
Star Wars: Squadrons gameplay
According to a press release, Squadrons will be focused primarily on 5-on-5 first-person multiplayer space battles. The game's Fleet Battle mode will have teams battle to take out the enemy's flagship, while Dogfights sounds like a more traditional deathmatch mode focused on racking up as many kills as possible. Players will have a chance to fly a variety of iconic Star Wars ships for both the New Republic and the Empire, and will have a chance to plan out every battle in a "briefing room" before combat stars.
EA also says to expect "rich cosmetic and gameplay customization options" that are earned through gameplay alone, so you won't have to worry about micro-transactions. You'll have a wealth of ways to customize your ships, with parts that can alter how your fighter looks, fights and feels, complete with fun cosmetics like an Ewok bobblehead. Your ship's console will provide detailed
Additionally, Squadrons will feature a single-player campaign that follows the events of Return of the Jedi, exploring a similar timeline to 2017's Star Wars Battlefront II. The narrative will put the focus on new, original characters in the New Republic's Vanguard Squadron as well as the Empire's Titan Squadron, though EA says you can look forward to some familiar faces. The game's gameplay trailer seems to reveal the return of Hera Syndulla from Star Wars: Rebels, so we're eager to see which other iconic characters may return.
The game's locations include Yavin Prime, Esseles, Nadiri Dockyards, Sissubo, Galitan and Zavian Abyss, many of which have never been seen before in the Star Wars universe.
Star Wars: Squadrons ships
Squadrons will let you fly some of Star Wars' most iconic fighters, including the X-Wing (Starfighter), Y-Wing (Bomber), A-Wing (Interceptor) and U Wing (Support) for the New Republic. The Galactic Empire will have access to The TIE Fighter, TIE Bomber, TIE Interceptor and TIE Reaper. Each ship packs its own unique strengths and abilities, and optimizing your loadouts and ship combinations amongst your team will likely be key to victory.
