The announcement from EA’s investor relations presentation brought excitement to fans of the Star Wars: Jedi video game series, including those eagerly awaiting their own gaming experiences. According to Video Games Chronicle, Respawn Entertainment is developing its third game in the series, touted as “the definitive conclusion” to the captivating narrative arc begun by the first two games featuring Cal Kestis, a beloved character and one of my favorite Star Wars redheads. Despite the moniker “Survivor” in its title, the larger Star Wars universe holds little promise for Cal’s future, given its troubled past.
Acquiring details about this novel recreation was effortless, free from apprehension, since my initial assumption was that Cal’s predetermined fate wouldn’t unfold without warning. That’s still what Clayton Ashley typed into GameFiends’ Slack: “I wonder if he’ll die on this one,” prompting Pete Volk to quip, “[ twisted interpretation ] Which Disney+ show can he cameo in?” Although the former seems somewhat plausible, I’d agree.
As Cal Kestis, a young Padawan, navigates the galaxy after averting Order 66, he is acutely aware that his existence as a Jedi puts him in grave danger, given the Empire’s relentless pursuit of eliminating the last remnants of the ancient Order. In the same way that numerous Star Wars characters were conceived to inhabit timeframes preceding Luke Skywalker’s emergence, Obi-Wan Kenobi is noticeably absent from all these earlier events. No one wants to edit him into their work. Nobody is asking for that. Nobody!)
Despite this disclaimer, his narrative and its conclusion still hold the potential to be captivating. Demonstrating that narratives centered on characters willing to sacrifice themselves over a personal trigger, where audiences predictably anticipate a fatal outcome, can be just as emotionally resonant and story-rich as those with more ambiguous conclusions.
If Cal Kestis’s fate is sealed and he must meet his demise, I’m eager to witness the impactful execution of his storyline. Does that sound bizarre? No matter.
