Star Wars: Eclipse was first revealed at the 2021 Game Awards. It is being developed by Quantic Dream, the developer behind Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human. The High Republic setting hasn’t been much of a focus outside the recently released books and comics, so Star Wars: Eclipse will likely be the first major video game to delve into this period. Because of this, the game could be the first to show how the galaxy dealt with politics and themes of expansionism and how it struggled to keep the peace amidst an ever-growing government.
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Chancellor Lina Soh and the High Republic’s Political Moment
One of the major characters in the High Republic books is Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh, who aims to welcome more planets from the Outer Rim into the Republic. She does this through “The Great Works,” large-scale projects ranging from space stations to galactic fairs aiming to show what is possible if the galaxy comes together to work as one. Throughout this endeavor, she’s faced with a lot of adversity from members inside her government, as well as from groups observing from the outside. Some view her outreach and plans as being unnecessary, dangerous, overly expensive, and even encroaching on other people’s territories, but she pushes forward under her beliefs that unity and cooperation will win out in the end.
The main antagonist of the High Republic books is a destructive marauder group named the Nihil. They believe that Chancellor Soh is taking away their freedom and eliminating their pirating lifestyle, so the Nihil attack and attempt to destroy the Chancellor’s Great Works, fighting against the Republic’s expansion.
Apart from the Nihil, another character that is against the Chancellor’s plans and goals is Senator Toon, a member of the Galactic Senate. Senator Toon believes that the money spent on the projects would be better spent on a galactic defense force that is separate from the Jedi, so he is constantly lobbying against the Chancellor. Both characters show how not everyone has an idealistic view of the Galactic Republic, or of the Outer Rim planets, believing that the other is more dangerous than the Chancellor realizes.
Star Wars: Eclipse could explore this thematic conflict even further, as certain planets may be hostile towards the growth and outreach of the Galactic Republic, considering it less altruistic than it claims to be. The game may focus on an ambassador attempting to make contact with an Outer Rim planet whose inhabitants may be resistant to the idea of joining the Republic, or a Jedi fighting against pirates, thieves, and political enemies who want to take down the Republic for its expansionist goals. Either way, Star Wars: Eclipse’s use of the High Republic presents the opportunity to explore the themes of unification and coexistence amidst a galaxy that may be skeptical – or even hostile – towards such ideas.
Star Wars: Eclipse is currently in development.
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