Real-time strategy fans still talk about it.Modders never stopped playing it.And somehow… it’s already been 20 years. Star Wars: Empire at War originally launched in February 2006, and it quickly became one of the most beloved Star Wars strategy games ever released. Two decades later, it still has an active player base, a thriving modding scene, and a legacy that few Star Wars games can match. Yes — we’re officially that old. The RTS That Let You Control the Galaxy Developed by Petroglyph Games and published by LucasArts, Empire at War put players in command of either the Rebel Alliance or the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War. Unlike most Star Wars games at the time, this wasn’t about controlling a single hero.It was about controlling entire fleets and planetary invasions. Players could: For many fans, it was the first time Star Wars felt like a fully interactive galactic…
Star Wars gaming history
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…
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…
Celebrating 7 Years Since the Reveal of Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
Seven years ago today, Lucasfilm and ILMxLAB pulled back the curtain on a project that would change the way fans experienced the galaxy far, far away: Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series. First announced in 2018, this groundbreaking title fused virtual reality technology with cinematic storytelling, inviting players to step inside Darth Vader’s dark domain like never before. A New Way to Step Into Star Wars When Vader Immortal was revealed, the idea of a fully interactive Star Wars story built for VR felt revolutionary. Instead of simply watching the action, players would live it: This wasn’t just a tech demo—it was a full-fledged Star Wars adventure. A Closer Look at the Story Players took on the role of a Force-sensitive smuggler drawn to Mustafar, the molten planet that serves as Darth Vader’s lair. Guided by the droid companion ZO-E3 (voiced by Maya Rudolph), you explored Vader’s fortress, uncovered…
Seven Years Ago Today: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Was Officially Announced at EA Play
It’s been seven years since Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was first announced at EA Play in 2018 — and yes, that makes some of us feel like we’ve aged as much as Obi-Wan between trilogies. What started as a casual tease from Respawn Entertainment during a mid-stream interview quickly snowballed into one of the most beloved Star Wars games in modern memory. Hard to believe it’s already been that long, but here we are — lightsabers still glowing, BD-1 still adorable, and the gaming galaxy still grateful for that one time EA didn’t open with loot boxes. Let’s revisit that iconic moment and explore why this announcement is still worth celebrating in 2025. 🛸 A Surprise Reveal Worthy of a Jedi Mind Trick The way Jedi: Fallen Order was announced was… unconventional, to say the least. No flashy trailer. No orchestra. No dramatic cut to Vader breathing. Instead, we…
Super Star Wars Trilogy Anniversary: Blasters, Bosses, and Brutal Platforming Since 1992
Some anniversaries pass quietly. This one kicks down the door with a thermal detonator and demands a side-scrolling boss fight. On this day in gaming history, Super Star Wars (1992), Super Empire Strikes Back (1993), and Super Return of the Jedi (1994) each blasted their way onto the SNES in three consecutive years—setting the tone for what “hardcore Star Wars gaming” would look like for a generation. If you’ve ever jumped over a Sarlacc pit, rage-quit on a lava planet, or been blindsided by a Jawa wielding an unreasonable amount of screen presence—congrats, you were there. 🕹️ Super Star Wars (1992): Where Sandcrawlers Feel Like Death Traps Released in 1992, Super Star Wars took the events of A New Hope and turned them into a side-scrolling gauntlet of lasers, lava, and angry Tusken Raiders. You start off blasting womp rats as Luke Skywalker (pre-Jedi, obviously), then pick up Han and…