Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is finally making its way to PS4 and Xbox One, giving last-gen console owners the opportunity to experience Cal Kestis’ journey. After a year since its initial launch on current-gen consoles, the action-packed adventure from Respawn Entertainment is expanding its audience. But before diving into the game, there are a few key points you should know about its upcoming release on last-gen consoles.
A New Chance to Experience Cal’s Adventure
For those unfamiliar, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to Fallen Order and takes place five years after the events of the first game. Cal Kestis, now a fully-fledged Jedi Knight, continues his battle against the Empire with the help of his trusty droid companion, BD-1. However, his crew from the Stinger Mantis—including Greez, Cere, and Merrin—have gone their separate ways, leaving Cal to fend for himself in the early parts of the game.
As always, expect action-packed sequences, lightsaber combat, and plenty of Force powers as Cal traverses a galaxy rife with danger.
Characters You Love and Some New Faces
Longtime fans of Star Wars will be happy to know that familiar faces from Fallen Order return. Characters like Greez, Merrin, and Cere all play significant roles in Cal’s journey, while new characters like Bode Akuna—an old friend of Cal—enter the story to mix things up. Whether you’re a veteran of the first game or new to the series, the cast of characters keeps the narrative fresh and engaging.
Planets to Explore
In Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you’ll hop between multiple planets—six in total, including five planets and one moon. The game introduces new locations for players to explore, one of the standout additions being the planet Koboh.
Koboh, in particular, stands out as the largest planet in the game, offering a semi-open-world experience where you’ll spend a significant portion of your adventure. Whether you’re solving puzzles, battling enemies, or uncovering hidden secrets, the exploration is a key component of the gameplay.
Jedi Meditation Chambers and New Abilities
The game introduces Jedi Meditation Chambers, which offer a series of puzzles and challenges. Completing these chambers will reward you with Perks, which can enhance your combat abilities and help you progress through the game. Players can also expect a wide array of Force abilities and tools, such as Force push and pull, Slow Time, and the trusty grappling hook known as the ascension cable.
And don’t forget about the rideable and glideable mounts—because who doesn’t want to travel the galaxy in style?
Expanded Combat Stances
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor significantly builds on the combat mechanics of Fallen Order. In this game, you’ll have access to five combat stances, each offering its own advantages. Returning stances include the single and double-bladed lightsabers, along with dual blade combat. Two new stances also make their debut: the crossguard stance, featuring a lightsaber reminiscent of Kylo Ren’s from the sequel trilogy, and the blaster stance, which combines long-range blaster attacks with traditional lightsaber combat.
These new stances allow players to tailor combat to their playstyle and keep the action fresh throughout the game.
Length and Replayability
If you’re wondering how long the game will keep you occupied, the main story takes about 20-22 hours to complete. However, with the addition of side content and exploration, most players can expect to clock in around 30-35 hours. For completionists who want to discover every secret and collect every item, the game offers over 50 hours of content.
Last-Gen Optimization
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. When Jedi: Survivor launched for current-gen platforms, it was riddled with technical issues, which left many fans concerned about its performance on older consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One. EA and Respawn have assured players that “a variety of optimizations aimed at maximizing the hardware capabilities” are being implemented for the last-gen versions. However, given the weaker hardware of PS4 and Xbox One, performance will inevitably be scaled back.
No Graphics Mode Options
On PS4 and Xbox One, players won’t get to choose between different performance modes, such as 60 FPS Performance Mode or 4K Graphics Mode, like they can on PS5 or Xbox Series X. Instead, there will be a single default setting for resolution and frame rate, though specific details on what the game will target on last-gen consoles haven’t been shared yet.
Exclusive Cosmetics and Pre-Order Bonuses
If you’re thinking about pre-ordering the game, Respawn is offering a special bonus for PS4 and Xbox One players. Pre-ordering will give you exclusive Obi-Wan Kenobi-inspired in-game cosmetics, including outfits for Cal that won’t be available anywhere else (at least for now). So, if you’re a fan of the legendary Jedi Master, this might be a good incentive to snag the game early.
Price and Upgrade Path
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be available on PS4 and Xbox One for $49.99, which is a discounted price compared to its current-gen version at $70. For those looking to upgrade later, the game offers a Cross-Gen Bundle that allows players to upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S version at no extra cost.
No Deluxe Edition for Last-Gen
While current-gen platforms offer a Deluxe Edition with extra content, last-gen consoles will only have access to the standard edition and Cross-Gen Bundle at launch. Digital players, however, can upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series X/S and then purchase the Deluxe Edition if they wish.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a Star Wars veteran or new to Cal Kestis‘ journey, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on PS4 and Xbox One is an exciting opportunity to dive into the action-packed adventure. While there are some concerns about how well the game will perform on last-gen consoles, Respawn’s efforts to optimize the experience should ensure a smooth ride. Get ready to wield your lightsaber once again on September 17, 2024!
