Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is almost here and it's already one of the best games of 2023. You can find our full review linked below for more on that, along with everything else you need to know about Cal Kestis' attempts to evade the Empire and continue his journey as a Jedi Knight after the climactic events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Naturally, this has been one of our most anticipated upcoming Star Wars games for some time now. Owing to a massive increase in the size and scope of this adventure, including new combat mechanics, larger planets to explore, and new ways to customize Cal and BD-1. So keep on reading for all the latest Star Wars Jedi: Survivor news and gameplay details.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor release date
The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor release date is April 28, 2022.
The action-adventure was originally set to launch on March 17, although Respawn announced that it needed an additional six weeks (opens in new tab) "in order for the team to hit the Respawn quality bar, provide the team the time they need, and achieve the level of polish our fans deserve."
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor platforms
Respawn has confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is going to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X in 2023. Game director Stig Asmussen says that next-gen features such as real-time ray tracing is allowing Respawn to work "at a fidelity that's well beyond anything that we've ever produced before." The decision to drop support for PS4 and Xbox One will also allow Respawn to reduce load screens and times, and invest in DualSense haptic feedback support on PS5.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review
In our Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review we found that Respawn Entertainment has delivered a "more ambitious, confident, and heartfelt adventure" which surpasses Jedi: Fallen Order in just about every way imaginable. With its massive scope and scale, Jedi: Survivor shows what a modern Star Wars story can be. To read the full review, be sure to click the link above.
What time does Jedi: Survivor release?
EA has revealed the Star Wars Jedi: Survivor unlock and pre-load times ahead of the game's release on April 28, 2023. Given the global release, access to Jedi: Survivor will rollout at a predetermined time across the globe, so don't expect to find it at midnight in your region.
- PDT: April 27 at 9pm
- EDT: April 28 at Midnight
- BST: April 28 at 5am
- CEST: April 28 at 6am
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor story
The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor story will pick up five years after the events of Jedi: Fallen Order, which concluded with Cal Kestis sacrificing the chance to rebuild the Jedi Order to keep Force-sensitive children safe from the Empire. We're expecting a darker tone to this sequel, as Cal is pushed into "an increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness." As one of the last remaining Jedi Knights in the galaxy, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will explore how far Cal is willing to go to "protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order" as The Dark Times close in around him.
Who was Cal Kestis modeled after?
Cal Kestis was modeled after his voice actor, Cameron Monaghan. Monaghan has appeared in countless movies and television shows since he made his acting debut in The Wishing Stone in 2002, the actor is perhaps best known for his role in Shameless as Ian Gallagher, and his turn as twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska in Gotham – who serve as the origins for The Joker.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor setting
There may be a good reason for Respawn basing the likeness of Cal Kestis so accurately on actor Cameron Monaghan. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is set to take place during a pivotal period on the Star Wars timeline, with its events falling during the same point in time as the Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ shows. Rumors have been circulating for weeks now that Monaghan's Kestis is set to appear in Obi-Wan, which was further fueled by Ewan McGregor citing the need for his Disney+ show to "match-up (opens in new tab)" with events and lore from the video games. Given the prominence of The Inquisitors in the Star Wars Jedi games, and with Obi-Wan coming into contact with surviving Jedi during the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, some degree of crossover seems plausible.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor gameplay
Star Was Jedi: Survivor will expand upon the challenging action-RPG combat of its predecessor. Game director Stig Asmussen confirms that Respawn is (opens in new tab) "leveraging advanced technology" of the PS5 and Xbox Series X to "create more dynamic Jedi combat." Adding that "Jedi: Survivor will expand on the series' dynamic combat in new and innovative ways. In order to survive, Cal must learn new skills and grow his connection with the Force."
That means we'll see the introduction of new Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles, as well as the ability to use a blaster. Respawn has also promised that Star Was Jedi: Survivor will feature an expanded range of enemies, and that we'll need to cleverly utilize our training to overcome opponents and solve mysteries contained on both "new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy."
Expect to see new skills, equipment, and abilities to augment Cal's range of fighting style and traversal options. The studio has also teased that there will be larger areas to explore and more opportunity to find hidden rewards across the new environments.
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is set to release in 2023, and only time will tell on whether it'll make our list of the best Star Wars games of all-time.
