Lucasfilm Games is increasingly open to working with smaller and independent studios on future Star Wars projects. Vice President Douglas Reilly says strong ideas aren't limited to major publishers, with the company exploring new partnerships and game concepts that could surprise fans.
The future of Star Wars gaming might not be all about massive budgets, blockbuster releases and the biggest names in the industry.
Lucasfilm Games has revealed that it's becoming increasingly open to working with smaller developers, suggesting that some unexpected projects could be heading to a galaxy far, far away.
And following the positive reception of Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Star Wars: Zero Company, that could be very good news for fans.
Speaking in an interview with The Games Business, Lucasfilm Games Vice President Douglas Reilly discussed the company's evolving approach to choosing development partners.
Reilly explained that Lucasfilm is becoming more flexible about which studios it considers, recognising that strong ideas aren't exclusive to major publishers.
"You don't have to necessarily be a top five publisher to make a great Star Wars game."Douglas Reilly, Vice President of Lucasfilm Games, as reported by Bespin Bulletin.
However, that doesn't mean Lucasfilm is lowering its standards.
Reilly emphasised that the company maintains high expectations for quality and generally prefers experienced teams with proven development backgrounds.
The approach has already produced some interesting results.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games, brings arcade racing back to the franchise, while Bit Reactor's Star Wars: Zero Company explores turn-based tactical combat.
Both games demonstrate how the Star Wars universe can accommodate experiences beyond traditional action adventures.
Perhaps the most exciting part of Reilly's comments is that Lucasfilm is already exploring additional projects with a variety of partners.
According to Insider Gaming, these include ideas of different sizes and scopes, with Reilly suggesting that some of the collaborations could surprise fans.
No specific developers, titles or release dates were confirmed.
For smaller and independent studios, the comments suggest there may be opportunities to bring fresh ideas to one of entertainment's biggest franchises.
And for players? It could mean more variety.
From bounty-hunting adventures and tactical RPGs to genres Star Wars has barely explored, there's an entire galaxy of possibilities.
If you could give an indie studio the Star Wars licence, what kind of game would you want them to create?
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