In the midst of swirling online rumors and speculation, one claim has risen to the surface: Disney, the entertainment giant and current rights holder to the Star Wars franchise, is reportedly considering selling the beloved space opera back to its original creator, George Lucas. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that these rumors are unfounded. These rumors stem from recent fan theories that emerged as Disney began cutting content from its streaming platform, Disney+, and implementing mass layoffs due to its financial situation. It’s true that the Walt Disney Company (WDC) is grappling with a net debt of $39.9 billion. However, the theory that Disney’s next move is to sell the Star Wars IP is purely speculative and based on conjecture rather than concrete evidence. The conjecture was fueled further by a Twitter user who suggested that Disney aims to sell Star Wars back to George Lucas to pay…
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The Tragedy of Star Wars 1313 and LucasArts
Did you ever hear The Tragedy of Star Wars 1313? I thought not. It’s not a story that Disney would tell you. But Act Man will… If you need some entertainment as you make it through the week, check out this great video: It’s dramatic, it’s real, and it’s full of ups and downs! It will tell you the story of the Star Wars game that was never meant to be and what actually went wrong. Why didn’t we get Star Wars 1313? Gamers everywhere were hyped and then heartbroken when this game was canceled. How can we understand this tragedy? This video will break it all down from the very beginning to the ultimate tragic ending. Ready for a history lesson in Star Wars gaming? It’s important because that build up helps you understand the events leading up to what ultimately destroyed Star Wars 1313. Give it a watch…
LucasFilm Games is Hiring
Lucasfilm is looking to get back into the games industry. They have posted a list of jobs at Disney Careers. Many of these are positions for Lucasfilm Games. There are open positions for: Producer Brand Art Coordinator Brand Marketing Coordinator Assistant Producer Associate Brand Art Director Associate Brand Marketing Manager Assistant Producer – Asia Could this mean a revival of LucasArts? It’s too early to tell right now because it seems like it’s just going to be LucasFilm for games under the existing EA contract. It’s actually not likely that it’s a revival of LucasArts we we knew it before. Most likely, it’s something else. These are publisher positions, not developer positions, so they are not doing internal games. Instead, they are working on projects already in the EA/Disney umbrella. Either way, it’s interesting. And if you’re looking for a position in the industry, this could be a great open…
Star Wars Galaxies Fan Fest (2005)
Back in the day, there were two Fan Fests for Star Wars Galaxies. LucasArts hosted these events as a way to honor and celebrate the many fans of the game, and also to provide a way for them to all come together and meet. The 2004 Fan Fest was held at the Hilton Anaheim in June. It was a great time to be in California as the weather is great and of course, the venue was wonderful. Players had the chance to meet one another and also to talk to developers, participate in panels, and play in in-game and live events. Tickets ran from $89-100, depending on if you pre-purchased or got them at the door. It was a lot of fun, as these types of fan events tend to be. If you played SWG back then, you will remember how close-knit the community was. In addition to it being…
Lucasfilm Thank You Letter to All Star Wars Fans
Is it really any surprise that fans everywhere are super excited about the new Star Wars film? I, for one, knew it would happen. I don’t think anyone would really argue that point. But after the full trailer released, my social media feeds were filled with Star Wars talk. Websites crashed, hashtags soared to the top of trending topics… it was being discussed in schools and workplaces everywhere. That is the power of Star Wars and the new film has people everywhere excited. This did not go unnoticed with Lucasfilm (and likely not unexpected either) so they took time to write up an official Thank You letter to fans. In this post, they explain just how strong the Force is with fans across the globe: After two record-breaking teasers, the full trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted earlier this week, and we are humbled by the response. The…
Former LucasArts President Joins Dungeon Defenders as CEO
Independent developer Trendy Entertainment has hired former LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez as its new CEO. Trendy Entertainment, best known for its action-RPG Dungeon Defenders, is hoping the former LucasArts president will help lead their company to future success. Rodriguez tells Game Industry Biz: “When I first visited here I saw tremendous potential–both in Dungeon Defenders II and their cross platform backend and technology, Playverse, and needed to be a part of it. Working with talented, passionate people and putting them and customers first to help unlock Trendy Entertainment’s potential is why I’m here,” Rodriguez said. “I have been extremely fortunate to work with some of the most talented and passionate people across various creative industries and at some of the most renowned companies in the world. I am equally impressed and blessed to work with the passion and skill that exist at Trendy.” He also discussed that Trendy Entertainment will…
Footage from cancelled Star Wars game shows Darth Maul in action
Video game developer Red Fly Studios and publisher LucasArts were working on a new Star Wars based Darth Maul video game experience in 2010, which was supposed to expand the gameplay mechanics that were introduced in The Force Unleashed. Footage of the game has emerged online and sources are saying that the game was designed to initially be launched only on the Wii U by the same team that handled the port for Star Wars: The Force Unleashes II. LucasArts was impressed with the initial development work done by Red Fly Studios and decided to also greenlight the title for the PC, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Prototypes were being created in late 2010 using Darth Maul and his unique double-sided lightsaber as the core feature, but it seems that George Lucas intervened in order to add a cooperative element to the title, with the inclusion of Darth…
Star Wars Total Franchise Revenue and Stats
Have you ever wondered just how much Star Wars really earns? Have you wondered about which parts of the franchise actually make the most money? Where is Lucasfilms reeling in the cash? Some newly releases statistics show us all this and more about the Star Wars franchise revenue and earnings. While the films themselves are big time earners (of course), there are also other areas of revenue, as shown by the charts below. This shows where the franchise has brought in money over the past 37 years. Statistic Verification Source: Forbes, Lucasfilms Research Date: 10.27.2012 Total Star Wars Franchise Revenue $27,000,000,000 Movies Revenue Star Wars : Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace $924,317,558 Star Wars : Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones $649,398,328 Star Wars : Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith $848,754,768 Star Wars : Episode 4 – A New Hope $775,398,007 Star Wars : Episode 5…
How LucasArts Fell Apart – What Killed the Studio?
Disney has laid off the staff of LucasArts and cancelled all current projects which leaves fans wondering what caused the fall of this popular studio and what could have been if they had stayed in business. The studio was once revered for its production and distribution of Star Wars video games but it is no more. Promised games were cancelled, staff was laid off or moved to other departments and Electronic Arts will be in charge of Star Wars when it comes to games. But all of this news left many fans stunned and wondering what happened? Kotaku tackled this topic recently and brought some additional info on the subject. Kotaku tells us: Over the last five months, I’ve talked to a dozen people connected to LucasArts, including ex-employees at the company’s highest levels, in an attempt to figure out just how the studio collapsed. Some spoke off the record;…
20 Canceled LucasArts Star Wars Titles Revealed
The book Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts released in 2008 but recently has made news for the list of cancelled Star Wars games that were reported to be in development at LucasArts. The book contains logos for 20 Star Wars titles that were in development at LucasArts at that time. There are some interesting titles on the list. You will find a tie-in for Episode VII subtitled Shadows of the Sith and even a third Jedi Knight title which a lot of fans say they really wanted to see. It looks like maybe they expected to continue the Star Wars movie serious via games until the Disney contract came through. Now just because these 20 titles are written as “cancelled” by LucasArts, that doesn’t mean that these concepts will never become games at some time in the future. Which on the list would you most want to see? Book Description:…
Is LucasArts Facing a Shutdown?
There is gossip around the Internet about LucasArts- the kind of gossip that makes fans a bit uneasy. After the cancellation of The Clone Wars, there have been fears that LucasArts is facing a shutdown. Reports tell us that there are incoming Layoffs for Lucasfilm Animation and it only makes sense now that Disney is on the scene to get rid of the department that does the very same thing they already do. While fans are really bummed about the cancellation of The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm has promised that the bonus content will still be made available to fans. But this isn’t the only reason people are whispering about LucasArts… A report from GamesIndustry International says that LucasArts told them that everything is going according to plan and that the rumors are just that- rumors. But not everyone is buying that, including ex employees. One ex-LucasArts employee said: “The ‘business’…
Star Wars: 1313 Development on Hold?
We’ve told you about Star Wars:1313 here in the past and have been following the production of the game to give you updates whenever possible. Well, it now seems like the development has stalled out. Will this be a temporary pause or is the whole game on shutdown? We don’t actually know right now. As Eucantina explains: The very impressive looking and possibly next-generation video game Star Wars: 1313 hasn’t been heard about since its last major showing at Star Wars Celebration VI in August. When Disney acquired Lucasfilm, and thus LucasArts, word started to spread that Disney’s video game focus would be more on casual games than AAA console titles like 1313 was shaping up to be. Some fans started to get nervous. What did this mean for 1313? Would development shift to a different developer as Disney decided how to best use LucasArts? Would the game be cancelled? It wouldn’t be the first time an anticipated Star…
How Will the Star Wars Expanded Universe Be Affected by the Disney Buyout?
Everyone is talking about the Disney purchase of Lucasfilm since the news was revealed yesterday but one question that we have on our minds is what will happen to the Expanded Universe now that this buyout has taken place? It’s far too early to say for certain so all anyone can do is speculate but this does bring up some important questions. A sequel trilogy would cause an upheaval in the galaxy far, far away for sure. It may disturb the continuity that has been part of the community for a very long time now. There are fans of all types and all age ranges out there who have spent their time in a post-Return of the Jedi atmosphere that could very well be turned on its heels. While we don’t know any more than the fact that there will be another movie, we cannot begin to guess what this…
Star Wars: Episode 7 to be “Original Story”
Since hearing the news that Disney bought Lucasfilm and there will be a new Star Wars movie, fans all over the world are speculation on what ‘Episode 7’ will be about. A Lucasfilm source says that this will be an all original story. What we do know for sure about Star Wars: Episode 7 is that Lucas himself won’t have a big hand in the day-to-day creation of it, although he did say he will assist and oversee the film (after previously saying he would never do another Star Wars movie). But some fans are actually happy to know that Lucas won’t have such a big hand it in (perhaps they are secretly hoping to never see Jar Jar Binks killed off permanently). Ok, so while Star Wars fans everywhere are speculating about what the new movie will entail, there are some facts that might surprise you. E Online (UK)…
Disney Set to Purchase Lucasfilm and make ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’
If you’ve been waiting for some new Star Wars movies, then the time has finally come! Walt Disney Pictures has issued a press release announcing that the company has “agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd.” This is HUGE news that can greatly change the future of the Star Wars franchise. According to the press release: Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas. Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments. This is not the first film company that Disney…
LucasArts president Paul Meegan steps down after two years
The high level turnovers with LucasArts continues as it was announced today that LA President, Paul Meegan, would step down after two years with the company. A statement was released today by parent company Lucasfilm that reveals the news. “”Development on all current LucasArts projects will proceed,” reads a line from Lucasfilm’s statement. “”Paul has been a valuable member of the Lucasfilm leadership team and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. We remain committed to our current projects and will be re-evaluating LucasArts’ leadership needs to ensure that we make the right decisions to keep the studio focused.” In his own statement, Meegan said LucasArts has “come a long away” and he is “extremely proud” of what the teams at the studio have accomplished. He said there are a number of projects that have yet to be announced, and that he wishes the company “all the best”…
LucasArts to Reveal Secret Title at E3
E3 is coming up and we all know that this is often a great opportunity for surprises. One of the best surprises to come out of events like E3 is a new game title and that’s what LucasArts is rumored to have coming for us. As reported by 8Bit Envy: E3 is a great time for surprises, and wouldn’t it be great if LucasArts finally revealed Battlefront 3? Now I’m not saying they will, but when you get an invitation to come see an “unannounced game in development,” you can’t help but be optimistic. So, being the curious lad that I am, asked whether or not this unannounced title would have lightsabers in it. The answer wasn’t confirmed, but it wasn’t denied either. There has been numerous posts about Battlefront 3 being in the works, then being canceled, so anything is possible. LucasArts did confirm they were using the Unreal…
Kudos to George Lucas – but this Time It Doesn’t Involve Star Wars
So we’re all a little ticked at George Lucas for “retiring” from Star Wars but he just did something cool enough to redeem himself- at least a little in the eyes of fans. In case you were not previously aware, Lucas has been in a battle with his neighbors for years because he wanted to build a movie studio in what they considered to be their backyards. Here’s a pic from the San Francisco Chronicle: George Lucas will not be building a 270,000 square foot digital media production compound on Grady Ranch in San Rafael, Calif., on the clear hillside (front left, in front of red roof) fronting a 174 house community seen in the background on Friday, March 30, 2012. So instead, he’s decided to build something else, something that’s really better for the greater good than a media studio anyway. He has decided to turn his large piece…
StarWars.com is Redoing their Blog
If you’re wondering why you weren’t able to see the StarWars.com blog, it’s because it’s on hiatus as they rework and redesign the blog. They currently have a message on the home page explaining the hiatus: The Official Star Wars Blog is now on temporary hiatus as the Lucas Online team continues to explore new directions for StarWars.com. New authors, new articles, and new points of view are in the works for the Blog that will cover the entire Star Wars experience. As with all changes undertaken on the website, we are closely examining feedback from past surveys and user actions on the site, and we want to hear from you. Feel free to let us know in the comments what you’d like to see the Official Star Wars Blog become. So here is your chance if you visit this blog to speak up about what you want, what features…
LucasArts to Take “around 35%” of SWTOR Revenue- EA Still to Have Profit
We know that EA will not be pocketing all of the profit from SWTOR, which looks to be a very successful game but has also been quite a large investment. They will have to share with Lucas Arts, who owns rights to the Star Wars name. some have said that EA may not have much to gain in the way of profit from the deal but one analyst said there is plenty to go around. (Isn’t this what I just said yesterday?) According to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, LucasArts will take “around 35 per cent” of the revenue from forthcoming SWTOR MMO after EA earns back its investment in the game. “I think [EA] will make a profit,” said Pachter, who has proven to be right on these types of things in the past. He adds: “The revenue split is around 35 per cent to LucasArts after EA earns…
Activision Questions Star Wars: The Old Republic’s Chances at Profitability
The days are counting down to the December 20th launch of SWTOR and as many are getting excited about the upcoming MMO, there are others who don’t quite fall into all the hype. Some are predicting SWTOR might not do as well as predicted and that even if it does, there won’t be much room for profit for EA with such an expensive game that they also have to share licensing rights with to Lucas Arts. Will there be any room left for profit from SWTOR? Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick says EA Will Lose Out with The Old Republic but could he be right? There’s no surprise that there are skeptics when it comes to SWTOR. In fact, with any big thing, there are going to be those who oppose it but how much truth might there be to the questioning? Kotick made his remarks about SWTOR at the Reuters…
LucasFilm registers “Star Wars: Identities” domain names
“The acquisition of a new domain name has fueled speculation of what the intergalactic franchise has in store for the future,” writes IFC.com. This is actually really interesting news for fans of Star Wars. There could be something new and exciting in the horizon for the franchise. Lists of recent domain name registrations show that LucasFilm were planning a site called “Star Wars: Identities” of some sort but no one knows exactly what it’s all about. It sure is a lot of fun to try to guess what it’s all about though. Fusible reported that the company registered a number of domain names for this new title. Could it be a series? A game? A movie? Something is in the works at LucasFilm, that’s for sure. Registered names include: StarWarsIdentities.com, the typo-friendly StarWarsIdentites.com and even sw-id.com. In this article, Fusible theorized about what “Star Wars: Identities” might be. Is it…
LucasArts Post Job Openings for New Open World RPG
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything about a new game from LucasArts but it appears that could be about to change. Metro.co.uk talks about a job listing that indicates there is a new “open world” RPG in the making. This is exciting news but it also raises a lot of questions and peaks the curiosity of all types of gamers. The last title released by LucasArts was “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II”, which seemed to leave a lot to be desired for many gamers. The idea of a new game is exciting for many. There’s no way to know if this will be something related to Star Wars, Indiana Jones or something completely different. Job ads are the most dependable source when it comes to leaning about new games but they’re very vague about the information they provide. It simply states that LucasArts is looking for more people…
LucasArts Promising Better Star Wars Games
LucasArts is promising fans they will stay true to form and create better Star Wars games. This couldn’t come at a better time as SWTOR fans are super pumped about the new MMO. But technically, TOR is not even a LucasArts game but a BioWare game. It’s been some time since LucasArts created a great Star Wars title in-house and fans are happy to hear that the company wants to turn that around. Paul Meegan LucasArts main man The new president of LucasArts, Paul Meegan stated that he wants LucasArts to be known once again as a decent game developer and his plan to do so is to focus on top-quality Star Wars game titles. In his first interview since becoming president of LucasArts almost a year ago, he talks about what he wants from the future of LucasArts. “LucasArts is a company with tremendous potential,” Meegan said. “I think…