William C. Dietz, the science fiction author best known in Star Wars circles for writing the Dark Forces novella trilogy, has died at the age of 80. A memorial published this week states that Dietz passed away on March 15, 2026. For a lot of Star Wars readers, Dietz was not just another tie-in writer. He was the author who helped give Kyle Katarn a life on the page through Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire, Dark Forces: Rebel Agent, and Dark Forces: Jedi Knight—three books that adapted and expanded the story of one of the most beloved Legends-era characters. Wookieepedia’s record of his Star Wars bibliography lists those three Dark Forces books as his core contributions to the franchise. A Name Star Wars Readers Remember Dietz built a much bigger career beyond Star Wars. His official biography says he published more than sixty novels, with work translated into multiple…
Kyle Katarn
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster Finally Gets a Physical Release Date
Some Star Wars games never really leave. They just keep finding new ways to crawl back out of the vents. That is pretty much the story of Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, which is now getting a physical release on March 13, 2026. Fantha Tracks flagged the date, and Atari’s own store listing backs it up with a “ships March 13th, 2026” window for physical editions on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. For an old-school Star Wars shooter like Dark Forces, that is a pretty nice victory lap. Kyle Katarn Is Back on Shelves There is something fitting about Dark Forces getting a physical release. This is not just another retro game tossed into the digital void and left to fend for itself. Dark Forces is one of those foundational Star Wars PC games that still carries real weight, partly because of what it was and partly because of what it…
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002) – The Game That Made Lightsaber Combat Feel “Right” in 3D
Released in 2002, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is the moment the Jedi Knight series fully nailed the fantasy that so many Star Wars games chase: a blaster shooter that evolves into a lightsaber-and-Force power power trip—without losing mechanical depth. Built on id Tech 3 (the Quake III Arena engine), it arrived during a peak LucasArts stretch where Star Wars games were allowed to be bold, systems-heavy, and unapologetically “gamey.” A quotable way to frame its significance: Jedi Outcast didn’t just hand players a lightsaber—it gave Star Wars melee combat a ruleset people wanted to master, not merely watch. That mastery—timing, spacing, Force management, and readable animations—is why the game still gets referenced whenever Star Wars lightsaber combat comes up. Game Information Title: Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi OutcastRelease year: 2002Developer: Raven SoftwarePublisher: LucasArts (with publishing variations by platform/region)Platforms: Windows, Mac OS / Mac OS X, GameCube,…
Star Wars: Dark Forces Released in 1995 — and Changed Star Wars Gaming Forever
Before Jedi Knight.Before Battlefront.Before modern Star Wars shooters. There was Dark Forces. Released in February 1995, Star Wars: Dark Forces didn’t just give fans another licensed game — it helped redefine what a Star Wars video game could be and quietly laid the foundation for decades of Star Wars gaming that followed. And yes… it’s officially a classic. A Different Kind of Star Wars Game When Dark Forces launched for MS-DOS in 1995, Star Wars games were still finding their identity. LucasArts had delivered flight sims and platformers, but a fully realized first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe felt new. Inspired by the popularity of DOOM, Dark Forces combined fast-paced FPS gameplay with cinematic storytelling and original characters. Most notably, it introduced: At the time, it was one of the most technically ambitious Star Wars games ever made. The Birth of Kyle Katarn If Dark Forces has a…
Kyle Katarn Is Coming to Hasbro’s Star Wars Black Series — Spring 2026
Heads up, collectors! Hasbro just dropped a bombshell: Kyle Katarn will be joining the Star Wars Black Series lineup in Spring 2026. Yes, that Kyle Katarn — the former Imperial officer turned Rebel operative turned Force-wielding hero from Dark Forces, Jedi Knight, Galactic Battlegrounds, and more. His arrival in physical form has long been demanded by fans of Star Wars video games. Now it’s finally happening. What We Know So Far Why This Matters For fans of the Star Wars expanded universe—and especially the video-game side of things—Kyle Katarn is a legacy character. He bridges multiple media: games, lore, and fan nostalgia. Having him immortalized as a Black Series figure is a big win for many collectors who’ve waited years for this. Also, the fact that Hasbro is doing this under the “Gaming Greats / Fan Channel” umbrella signals they see value in tapping into the gaming fanbase, not just…
Star Wars: Dark Forces II Gets a Gorgeous Unreal Engine 5 Remake – Kyle Katarn Returns in HD Glory
In a galaxy where AAA Star Wars games can take years to develop and mods carry the franchise’s soul on their pixelated backs, one brave fan has decided to do what Lucasfilm won’t: bring Kyle Katarn back in style. That’s right—Star Wars: Dark Forces II, the beloved 1997 FPS-slash-Jedi-origin-story, is being remade in Unreal Engine 5 by a dedicated modder, and it looks absolutely stunning. Cue the nostalgia, sharpen your lightsabers, and prepare to shoot first and ask questions later. Dark Forces II: The Cult Classic That Laid the Jedi Groundwork Before Jedi: Survivor, before The Force Unleashed, there was Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight—a gritty, groundbreaking game where you played as Kyle Katarn, a former Imperial turned mercenary turned Jedi who’s basically what you’d get if Han Solo and Obi-Wan had a grumpy lovechild. The game combined: In short, Dark Forces II was the moment Star Wars gaming got…
TL-50 Heavy Repeater: Andor’s Surprise Live-Action Debut
Andor Episode 10, titled “Make It Stop,” brought a hidden gem to the Star Wars universe’s live-action fold: the TL-50 Heavy Repeater. For hardcore Star Wars gamers, this isn’t just any blaster—it’s a weapon with serious history. The TL-50 first made its debut in Jedi Outcast, a classic game from 2002 that solidified its place in Star Wars gaming lore. Later, the weapon found new life in DICE’s Star Wars Battlefront games, reimagined with stunning graphics and devastating firepower. Now, thanks to Andor, it’s officially part of live-action canon. The Origin Story: Jedi Outcast The TL-50 Heavy Repeater was first wielded by Kyle Katarn, the rogue Jedi turned mercenary who became a fan-favorite in the Jedi Knight series. In Jedi Outcast, the weapon was known for its insane rate of fire and devastating power. It wasn’t just a blaster; it was a room-clearer. The secondary fire mode unleashed a concussive…