Today marks a special milestone in Star Wars gaming history: Star Wars: Bounty Hunter was released on this day back in 2002. Yes — over two decades ago, players first stepped into the boots of Jango Fett, long before Din Djarin made Mandalorians mainstream cool. If you were gaming in the early 2000s, this title was one of those “must-play” releases — a gritty, atmospheric action-adventure that finally let fans live out the fantasy of being a professional hunter navigating the criminal underworld of the galaxy. Two blasters, a jetpack, and a moral compass permanently stuck on “grey area”? That’s peak Star Wars. Why Bounty Hunter Was a Big Deal When Star Wars: Bounty Hunter launched for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, it offered something fans had been hungry for: a Star Wars game not built around Jedi, not built around starfighters, and not built around Rebels vs Empire. Instead,…
Gaming history
Star Wars Battlefront II Was Released 8 Years Ago Today – A Look Back at the Game That Refused to Stay Down
Eight years ago today, Star Wars Battlefront II blasted onto the scene, kicking off one of the most controversial yet ultimately triumphant chapters in modern Star Wars gaming. Released on November 17, 2017, the game’s launch was a lightning rod of global discussion… but its legacy has become something far more impressive: a comeback story fans still talk about in 2025. Whether you loved the campaign, ground through Galactic Assault, or spent all night perfecting your starfighter loadout, there’s no denying Battlefront II left its mark on the galaxy far, far away. A Rocky Launch That Sparked a Revolution When Battlefront II launched, it was immediately met with major criticism regarding loot boxes and progression. The backlash was so intense it reached mainstream news outlets and even triggered political conversations around loot box legislation in multiple countries.It’s rare for a video game to become a global talking point. It’s even…
Star Wars: Hunters Soft-Launched 4 Years Ago Today — A Short but Wild Ride
Four years ago today, Star Wars: Hunters officially entered soft launch, giving fans their first hands-on experience with Zynga’s competitive arena battler set in the post-Empire era. It promised fast matches, colorful characters, and a fresh take on Star Wars multiplayer—a mobile and Switch-friendly alternative that stood out from anything else in the franchise. And for a while, it worked.Players jumped into the Arena on Vespaara with Jedi impostors, Mandalorian warriors, droids disguised as stormtroopers, and even a pair of Jawas stacked in a trench coat. Hunters wasn’t afraid to be weird, vibrant, and fun. But as we look back on its soft launch anniversary, the celebration is bittersweet—because Star Wars: Hunters officially shut down on October 1, 2025.(You can read our coverage here: https://swtorstrategies.com/2025/10/star-wars-hunters-shut-down.html) Still… today is a reminder of what the game was and what it could have been. A Game Full of Style, Personality & Potential The…
Star Wars: The Old Republic Went Free-to-Play 13 Years Ago Today — A Turning Point That Saved the Galaxy
Thirteen years ago today, Star Wars: The Old Republic made one of the most important pivots in MMO history. On November 15, 2012, BioWare officially launched SWTOR’s Free-to-Play option worldwide—opening the galaxy to millions of new players and reshaping the future of the game forever. It wasn’t just a business model change.It was a lifeline.It was a rebirth.It was the moment SWTOR found its identity. Let’s take a look back at the day the MMORPG changed course and how that decision continues to shape the game in 2025. The Announcement That Transformed SWTOR The original message—short and almost casual—landed with the force of a thermal detonator: “Today we are excited to announce that the global launch date of the The Old Republic Free-to-Play option will be November 15, 2012. This release will be simultaneous across all territories and countries SWTOR is available.” At the time, SWTOR was less than a…
Star Wars Battlefront II: Elite Trooper Edition Released 8 Years Ago Today — A Look Back at the Launch That Promised Everything
Eight years ago today, Star Wars Battlefront II players who picked up the Elite Trooper Edition stepped onto the battlefront three days before everyone else. November 2017 was a wild moment in gaming—equal parts hype, controversy, and sheer excitement—and the Elite Trooper Edition was right in the center of it all. But for many fans, that early-access window wasn’t just three days of extra playtime… it was three days of pure bragging rights. A Premium Edition Built for the Galaxy’s Most Dedicated Soldiers When EA and DICE unveiled the Star Wars Battlefront II Elite Trooper Edition, it was pitched as the ultimate way to dive into the sequel’s ambitious scope. More maps. More heroes. A full single-player campaign. Space battles. A refined class system. And of course—cosmetic upgrades that made your trooper look like they meant business. The Elite Trooper Edition bundled together: For fans who lived and breathed galactic…
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Turns 24 — The RTS Classic That Let Fans Command the Galaxy
On 13 November 2001, LucasArts launched a game that no one quite expected… yet absolutely everyone remembers: Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds. Powered by the same engine as Age of Empires II, it mashed up traditional RTS gameplay with the most iconic factions in the galaxy. And somehow, it worked brilliantly. It’s now 24 years old—old enough to vote, drink in some countries, and definitely old enough to remind you that time is a flat circle. But let’s celebrate it anyway, because Galactic Battlegrounds remains one of the most charming slices of early-2000s Star Wars gaming. A Galaxy Built on the Genie Engine In 2001, using the Age of Empires II engine for a Star Wars game sounded like a fever dream. But the Genie Engine turned out to be the perfect canvas: resource gathering, tech upgrades, unit queues, and that classic AOE “attack-move” feel—all wrapped in a Star Wars skin….
Star Wars: Demolition Released 25 Years Ago — The Wildest Arena Battle in the Galaxy Turns a Quarter Century Old
Twenty-five years ago, Star Wars: Demolition crash-landed onto our consoles, blending lightsabers, speeders, and chaos into one unforgettable combat experience. Released in November 2000 for the PlayStation and Dreamcast, the game was an explosive mashup of Twisted Metal–style vehicular mayhem and the Star Wars universe — a combination that only the early 2000s could have delivered. So yes, Star Wars: Demolition just turned 25 years old, and it’s time to celebrate the galaxy’s most gloriously chaotic gladiator game. A Galaxy Far, Far Away Meets Vehicular Carnage Developed by Luxoflux and published by LucasArts, Star Wars: Demolition wasn’t about elegant lightsaber duels or Jedi wisdom. This was pure, unfiltered destruction. Players entered an intergalactic deathmatch in various vehicles — from Boba Fett’s jetpack and Speeder Bikes to AT-STs, Podracers, and even Rancors. The premise? Simple but brilliant: after the Galactic Empire banned podracing, Jabba the Hutt created a new spectator sport…
On This Day 15 Years Ago: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Unleashed Its Power
Fifteen years ago today—October 26, 2010—the galaxy trembled once more as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II hit store shelves. It was the sequel to one of the most ambitious Star Wars video games ever made, and it brought back the one man powerful enough to challenge Darth Vader himself: Starkiller. Armed with two lightsabers, a serious case of identity crisis, and enough Force power to tear an AT-ST in half, Starkiller’s second act was fast, furious, and far too short. But despite its brief runtime, The Force Unleashed II remains a defining moment in Star Wars gaming history—equal parts spectacle, chaos, and emotional turmoil. The Power Fantasy Turned Up to 11 The original Force Unleashed gave fans the dream of tossing Stormtroopers off platforms and hurling TIE Fighters like frisbees. The sequel said, “You liked that? Let’s crank it to 11.” From the moment you fire up the game,…
On This Day: LEGO Star Wars – The Complete Saga Released on PC
It’s time to celebrate one of the most iconic and beloved Star Wars games of all time. On this day, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga was officially released for PC, uniting all six films in one hilarious, brick-filled adventure. Originally developed by Traveller’s Tales and published by LucasArts, The Complete Saga combined the charm of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy into a single, definitive package. It wasn’t just a re-release — it was the ultimate LEGO Star Wars experience. A Galactic Remix of Nostalgia For the first time, PC players could experience the full Star Wars saga — from The Phantom Menace to Return of the Jedi — rebuilt with improved graphics, smoother performance, and hundreds of collectible characters. The game offered: It was everything fans loved about Star Wars, but with extra slapstick and a sprinkle of plastic brilliance….
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II Released on This Day in 1997!
On this day in 1997, Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Dark Forces II hit store shelves, changing Star Wars gaming forever. Developed by LucasArts, the game marked the first time players could truly experience the thrill of wielding a lightsaber and using Force powers in first-person 3D — long before modern Jedi titles like Jedi: Survivor or Fallen Order came along. It was ambitious, cinematic, and way ahead of its time. And yes — it starred Kyle Katarn, everyone’s favorite mercenary-turned-Jedi, whose moral grayness and charm made him one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars Legends. A Revolution in Star Wars Gaming Dark Forces II built on the foundation of the original Dark Forces (1995), but added something fans had been dreaming about: Jedi combat. Players could choose between the light and dark sides, use Force powers like Push, Grip, and Lightning, and even engage in thrilling lightsaber…
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Released on This Day in 2007
Eighteen years ago, on October 9, 2007, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron hit the shelves as a PlayStation Portable (PSP) exclusive — and while it might not have had the flashiest graphics or the biggest marketing budget, it became a cult favorite among Star Wars gamers who wanted something a little more personal in their galactic warfare. Developed by Rebellion Developments and published by LucasArts, Renegade Squadron was built on the legacy of the original Battlefront titles but dared to tweak the formula in bold ways. Its biggest innovation? Character customization. For the first time in the series, players could design their own Rebel or Imperial soldier — swapping weapons, grenades, gadgets, and even appearance. Instead of being stuck with fixed “classes,” you could be a sniper with a jetpack, a heavy gunner with stealth gear, or a support unit with auto-turrets. It was chaotic, unbalanced, and utterly brilliant. A…