Star Wars: Magellan Was a AAA Action RPG Where You Could Play as a Jedi or Mandalorian

[A tantalizing glimpse into a Star Wars dream that never was.]

The galaxy far, far away just got a little bit more intriguing, and a whole lot sadder. New footage has surfaced revealing “Star Wars: Magellan,” a scrapped action RPG from Echtra Games that would have let players choose their destiny as either a noble Jedi or a fierce Mandalorian. This lost gem offers a fascinating look at what could have been, showcasing ambitious gameplay mechanics and diverse character options.

A Dream Deferred: Unveiling Star Wars: Magellan

MP1st MP1st has unearthed the first publicly seen artwork and gameplay of Magellan, sourced from the portfolio of an artist who worked on the project at Echtra Games. Echtra, based in San Francisco until its closure last year, was founded by former Blizzard developers and delivered Torchlight 3 in 2020. The studio was later acquired by Zynga but never released another title. It appears that during this period, they were secretly developing Star Wars: Magellan, intended to follow Zynga’s arena shooter, Star Wars Hunters.

This unearthed multiplayer RPG, codenamed Magellan, was slated for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 before Zynga pulled the plug. The discovery has sent ripples of excitement (and disappointment) throughout the Star Wars gaming community. As @MPFirst @MPFirst put it on Twitter pic.twitter.com/9pOi6Qub8w, this is a glimpse into a project that could have been truly special.

Gameplay and Character Classes: A Glimpse of What Could Have Been

Magellan appears to have been far more ambitious than Zynga’s previous Star Wars offering, Star Wars Hunters. Descriptions point to at least two playable character classes, an NPC bond system for deeper interactions with companions, and a “shoot and loot” gameplay loop that sounds incredibly engaging. The footage showcases a caped Mandalorian fighter, nicknamed “Triggerman,” and a Twi’lek Jedi, referred to on-screen as “The Exiled Mandalorian” and “The Hunted Jedi.”

Gameplay snippets show the Jedi class deflecting laser fire with their lightsaber and using Force powers to push enemies back. The Mandalorian character demonstrates impressive mobility with their jetpack, capable of short bursts of flight, and unleashes a devastating flamethrower attack. Enemies range from familiar Stormtroopers and droids to hulking mechs, and yes, there are even those satisfyingly explodable red barrels.

A Legacy of Lost Dreams: Magellan Joins the Roster of Unreleased Star Wars Games

Unfortunately, like many promising Star Wars projects before it, Magellan was ultimately cancelled when Zynga shuttered Echtra. This leaves it joining a long list of unreleased Star Wars games, including Project Ragtag, Star Wars 1313, and Battlefront 3. It’s a stark reminder of the challenges in bringing these beloved stories to life in interactive form.

Despite this loss, there is still plenty to look forward to within the Star Wars universe. The promising second season of Ahsoka promising-looking second season of Ahsoka and the Ryan Gosling-fronted Star Wars: Starfighter Ryan Gosling-fronted Star Wars: Starfighter, both slated for release next year, offer a glimmer of hope. But Magellan will forever remain a tantalizing “what if” in the history of Star Wars gaming.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social.

Source: IGN Gaming