New ‘Star Wars’ Game In The Works: Director Amy Hennig Talks Visceral’s Latest
The force might be strong with developer Visceral Game’s latest project.
From X-wing to TIE fighter, fans have enjoyed Star Wars titles over many years. The latest installment, Star Wars: Battlefront, continues to grow with new content and massive multiplayer battles. It was recently discussed at PAX West 2016 that Visceral Games is coming out with a new title in the Star Wars franchise, and this one may focus more toward action-adventure.
Titles such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic might come to mind when you think about adventure titles in the series. Lightsaber battles are plenty, there are a plethora of quests to carry out, and stories are told in grand fashion. In a report by GameSpot, Visceral Games employee Amy Hennig discusses her vision for the new Star Wars game. It was made clear that information had to be carefully chosen as to what she could reveal, but what we know is enough to create plenty of buzz.
Amy Hennig Talks Visceral’s Action-Adventure #StarWars Game https://t.co/BJLibmClI2 #StarWars pic.twitter.com/5i3OqzYnpQ
— Star Wars News (@StarWarsLatest) September 5, 2016
Visceral is owned by developer Electronic Arts. According to Hennig, they’re working closely with developer Lucasfilm’s story team. On top of this, leader Doug Chang is also involved. If this is any indication as to what fans can expect out of the development process, it’s clear that the main goal is to present a true Star Wars experience. There are no specifics as to the game’s specific details, but Hennig assures that they want to expand on a genuine installment.
“So we’re working really close, and I’ve been blessed to be working really close with the Lucasfilm story group and Doug Chang, who is their Art Director and Senior Creative Director over there, and that whole team, to say ‘what is Authentic Star Wars and how do we make more?’ Because our project is an original story.”
It goes without saying that a Star Wars game that has an original story is a broad description. Still, it’s good to know that fans could possibly receive a new chapter of the franchise to dive into.
Hennig weighed in on the Star Wars game, mostly how they intend to capture its essence.
“Authentic Star Wars can mean that we get the AT-ST right, right? And of course we have to do that too, but it’s all about the new stuff, the new characters, the new story, the new locations, the new creatures, the new tech,” Hennig said. “All of this stuff that has to sit authentically alongside the Star Wars that we’re so familiar with.”
There are some who would say that Star Wars: Battlefront is not one of those games. Considered by critics to be nothing more than a Call of Duty game with a Star Wars concept, fans new and old have reason to be excited about Hennig’s direction.
With @amy_hennig on board, I had to put Visceral’s #StarWars game at #3 on my top 10 most-anticipated list! pic.twitter.com/914eAz1A4H
— Lethality (@real_lethality) August 26, 2016
According to Dualshockers, Amy desires to focus on main characters fitting into a proper role befitting of a Star Wars game. It’s far too early to tell just what type of gameplay mechanics or concepts we’ll see, but Amy gives insight as to the challenge associated with creating the new Star Wars game. More specifically, she details protagonists and how games and movies portray them in a certain light.
“They have to work together and they have to be cleverer than their enemies,” Hennig began. “Therefore, how do you turn that into gameplay. How do you take that idea and then deconstruct it as mechanics, sequences, that then play to that core principle. That’s the challenge of making these kinds of things.”
Though we’ve only seen a small look at Visceral’s Star Wars title, Hennig and Lucasfilm look to be taking the game beyond what we’ve seen recently in the franchise.
Are you excited for a new Star Wars game? Let us know your thoughts on Hennig’s direction in the comment section below.
[Image via Electronic Arts]
