Not much of the story has been shown yet outside the Galactic Empire’s continued hunt for Cal Kestis, and with EA’s limited marketing approach for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it’s uncertain how much fans will see ahead of release. Fans will hopefully get plenty of new info before then, but pouring over the new Star Wars Jedi: Survivor trailer will be enough for now. And interestingly enough, Kylo Ren’s influence cannot be ignored.

RELATED: The Game Awards 2022 Winner List

Cal Kestis and Kylo Ren

Kylo Ren’s birth in the Star Wars timeline obviously takes place long after Star Wars Jedi: Survivor does, but since the prequel trilogy released first, his influence is palpable. Kylo Ren was the first Force user to ever wield a Crossguard Lightsaber in the movies, while his first appearance in The Force Awakens shows off a dominating use of a new Force Stasis ability. Both of these things interestingly appear in the new trailer.

Cal Kestis uses Force Stasis to slow time in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, effectively freezing an onslaught of blaster bolts and giving him the advantage against a couple of Stormtroopers. Later on, Kestis is shown to look at a new lightsaber, one with a similar Crossguard to Kylo Ren’s. The trailer only shows Kestis wielding a single saber, dual wielding two sabers, and connecting the two into a dual blade (when he throws it) similar to his lightsabers in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, so it’s uncertain if he’ll use this or if it’s just a tease. Kylo Ren’s lightsaber was obviously red, while Kestis’ is notably blue. Notably, Kestis isn’t the first Jedi since Kylo Ren’s appearance to come across this design, as Ezra Bridger finds a green one in Star Wars Rebels.

At the end of the day, these are obvious nods to Kylo Ren and nothing more, but that’s to be expected with a franchise as grandiose as Star Wars. There’s likely to be other Easter eggs and nods fans find, even if Star Wars Jedi: Survivor falls earlier on the timeline, but that’s what makes all Star Wars material feel connected.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on March 17, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

MORE: 8 Star Wars Moments That Cross Into Sci-Fi Horror