When Star Wars: Squadrons launched in 2020, it felt like a minor miracle. A focused, cockpit-only Star Wars space combat game. No live-service roadmap. No endless grind. Just starfighters, immersion, and a clear design vision.
And then — almost as quickly as it arrived — it was gone.
So what actually happened to Star Wars: Squadrons?
A Game That Knew Exactly What It Wanted to Be
Developed by Motive Studio, Star Wars: Squadrons was intentionally designed as a complete experience at launch. EA and Motive were unusually clear about this from the start:
- No long-term live-service plan
- No major post-launch expansions
- A tightly scoped multiplayer and single-player package
At release, that approach was refreshing. The game delivered:
- Fully immersive cockpit gameplay
- VR support
- Cross-play
- A short but solid story campaign
- Competitive multiplayer modes
For fans of classic X-Wing and TIE Fighter, it felt like Star Wars returning to its roots.
Strong Launch, Limited Longevity
Initial reception was largely positive. Players praised the flight model, immersion, and respect for Star Wars dogfighting. But the same focus that made Squadrons special also limited its lifespan.
The game wasn’t built to endlessly evolve. Once players mastered the systems, there was little left to unlock or explore. A handful of post-launch updates added:
- New starfighters
- Balance adjustments
- Minor quality-of-life improvements
But there was never a second phase.
And that wasn’t an accident — it was the plan.
The Problem With Being “Done”
In a market dominated by games-as-a-service, Squadrons existed outside the usual ecosystem. It didn’t have:
- Seasonal content drops
- Expanding battle passes
- Long-term monetization hooks
That made it consumer-friendly — but also difficult to justify extended support internally.
Once the planned updates were delivered, development wound down. Motive moved on to other projects, and EA shifted its Star Wars focus elsewhere.
EA’s Changing Star Wars Strategy
Timing also mattered.
After Squadrons, EA’s Star Wars output became more selective. The publisher doubled down on:
- Narrative-driven single-player games (Jedi series)
- Large-scale live-service projects
- Fewer, higher-profile releases
A niche, skill-heavy space sim simply didn’t fit neatly into that strategy, especially without a live-service tail.
A Cult Classic, Not a Casualty
Despite its quiet fade-out, Star Wars: Squadrons isn’t remembered as a failure.
Instead, it occupies a rare space:
- A Star Wars game that launched finished
- A focused experience that respected its audience
- A reminder that not every game needs to last forever
Its community may be smaller now, but it’s loyal — and vocal about what made the game special.
Could Squadrons Ever Return?
There’s no indication of a sequel or revival. But Squadrons proved something important: there is still demand for pure Star Wars flight combat, even in a crowded modern market.
If it ever returns, it likely won’t be as a live-service behemoth. It would work best the same way it did the first time — focused, confident, and complete.
Sometimes, disappearing quietly isn’t failure.
Sometimes, it just means a game did exactly what it set out to do — and then stopped.
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