STAR WARS RESISTANCE: Complete Rundown Of The Aces Pilots

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September 14, 2018

Hotshot pilots have always played a major role in the Star Wars franchise and the upcoming Resistance series is full of them. Created from the brilliant mind of Dave Filoni and directed by Amy Beth Christenson, a new trailer for Star Wars Resistance dropped, highlighting all the famed pilots serving on Colossus.

Star Wars Resistance takes place in the far regions of the outer rim. Tucked away on a still-mysterious planet, is the base Colossus and home to The Aces. Exploring new characters and stories leading up to The Force Awakens, Filoni’s project is full of humor, wild ships, and a host of quirky Star Wars characters.

Resistance is a classic Lucas style story with detailed attention given to every character. “The Aces are a group of pilots among the best in the galaxy,” states Filoni. Their job on the Colossus is to protect the base. But during quieter moments, these hotshots hone their skills through good old-fashioned racing.

Meet The Aces Pilots In Star Wars Resistance

Scoreboard of the Five Aces Pilots in Star Wars Resisatnce — Image via Disney Channel and Lucasfilm

Surrounding himself with an extremely talented crew, Filoni introduces five new pilots into the Star Wars franchise. Each is unique and full of personality. “When you see movies like The Right Stuff, it really connects with you because you know people like that in your life,” says Filoni in an interview with USA Today.

And he’s right. From Poe Dameron to Luke Skywalker, pilots play a major role in Star Wars. Their legend status, however, isn’t just about skill but who they are as an individual.

Torra Doza

Daughter of Captain Doza in the Resistance, Torra Doza knows her way around a cockpit. Voiced by Myrna Velasco, Doza is the youngest of the five Aces. Filled with “a childlike wonder,” she’s faced with an overprotective father and skills comparable to Dameron.

Much like Star Wars Rebels introduced Ezra as a kid trying to find his way in the galaxy, Doza is in the same position. She’s bubbly and happy, but don’t let her kindness be mistaken for weakness.

Hype Faizon

Voiced by the talented Donald Faison, Filoni says, “it’s one of the few times I created a character around a person.” Known for his iconic role in the television series Scrubs, Faison brings a much-needed swagger to the Star Wars universe.

Faizon is “the best pilot on the platform,” which fuels his cockiness according to Donald. But there’s more to him than sponsors and W’s. When the heat gets turned up, Hype steps to it and delivers.

Griff Halloran

A team of pilots isn’t complete without a grumpy old man keeping the kids in check. Voiced by Stephon Stanton, Griff is formerly a TIE fighter pilot. He’s likely seen more than his fair share of action, however, he’s still at it. Flying a sweet modified version of his original TIE fighter, Halloran is clearly the one not to mess with.

Still wearing his old beat up gear from a long-forgotten era, Halloran wants to end his days with “one last great battle.”

Freya Fenris

Possibly related to Fenris from Star Wars Legends, Freya is a no-nonsense pilot. You won’t find her cracking jokes with Hype and brewing like Griff. Fenris is all about the task at hand, making her super competitive and reliable.

Most likely Freya Fenris will be the foundational glue amongst The Aces. Voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, anime fans will recognize her as the voice of Major Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and Queen Metalia (Sailor Moon).

Bo Keevil

Not much is mentioned about the mysterious Bo Keevil, which has us thinking his voice actor is a very recognizable name. His ship, on the other hand, looks super cool. Known for pushing the edge, Keevil crashes more than he finishes. Fitted with four maneuverable wings, Keevil’s ship is tight.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a bad pilot. In fact, he kind of reminds us of a young Han Solo.

First Order Trooper in Star Wars Resistance animated series — Image via Disney Channel and Lucasfilm

The Aces are used to peace, but it’s about to come to an end as the threat of the First Order looms across the galaxy. Season 1 of Star Wars Resistance will likely be a healthy mix of character development, stunning races, and action.

Star Wars Resistance will air at 10 pm EST on October 7, 2018. The new animated series airs on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, and other Disney platforms.

Are you excited about the Aces and Resistance? Let us know in the comments below!

“May the Force be with you, always.”

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Celebrate MARVEL KNIGHTS’ 20th With DAREDEVIL: GUARDIAN DEVIL

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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Marvel Knights is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Marvel is rolling out brand new collections of the imprint’s greatest hits, like Daredevil: Guardian Devil.

When his girlfriend leaves him, Matt Murdock’s world is shaken. He barely has any time to get his bearings when a teenager shows up at his door, says she knows he’s Daredevil, and hands him her baby to take care of. She claims the baby is the savior, and an angel told her that Matt would be its protector. The Man Without Fear’s life only goes from bad to worse from there in this eight chapter story.

daredevil guardian devil kevin smith marvel knights — The new DAREDEVIL: GUARDIAN DEVIL trade dress for Marvel Knights’ 20th.

Daredevil was written by Kevin Smith, with pencils by Joe Quesada and inks by Jimmy Palmiotti. Colors were by Dan Kemp, Laura Depuy, Drew Yackey, and Richard Isanove. Letters were by Liz Agraphiotis with Dave Lanphear.

Writing/Story

Guardian Devil was Smith’s foray into superhero comics. The few comics he had written prior were set in his own film universe. It’s also arguably his best superhero comic. That’s no slight against his other work; Daredevil is just that enjoyable. Rereading it for this review, it reminded me of why I love the character.

This story is chock full of inner turmoil. Matt Murdock is famously Catholic, and from the first issue that’s a heavy component of this story. Smith’s also Catholic, so he writes from a very personal place. Matt’s crisis of faith is center stage, as is something that even those of us who stopped practicing years ago still suffer from – Catholic guilt. It’s in many ways (and not by accident) like Frank Miller’s Daredevil: Born Again, in that it tears down Murdock and explores who he is at his core.

But that inner conflict is balanced out with kick-ass superhero action, a captivating mystery, and an ending that’ll blow you away. Seriously, no spoilers here, but Daredevil is the book that made me realize how powerful a certain villain actually is, and turned him into one of my favorites.

Smith is admittedly pretty verbose, and that makes this something of a long read, but it’s worth it.

Art

Quesada and Palmiotti founded Marvel Knights, and they clearly put everything they had into Daredevil to make it work. And damn, does it work. Their Daredevil has become iconic since this book’s publication. Personally, I still can’t get over the erratic way Quesada draws the line connecting DD’s billy clubs.

The dense panel layouts and the way they create their settings is claustrophobic at times, adding to the intensity of the story. It suffocates you and overwhelms you the same way that Daredevil is overwhelmed. The use of darkness and shadow create the noir vibe that’s become synonymous with the character.

Marvel Knights Legacy & What The New Collection Offers

Marvel Knights launched in 1998, but Daredevil and the other MK titles didn’t feel like 90s books. Instead, they gave a sense of what would become standard in the new millennium. They weren’t superficial. They focused on story and characters, and gave readers something that would stick with them long after they put it down. Here we are twenty years later; suffice it to say, they succeeded.

The new collection comes in a sleek black trade dress that will match the rest of the Marvel Knights 20th anniversary editions. It features introductions and afterwords by Quesada, Smith, Ben Affleck, and Tom Sullivan, all of which were originally included in past collections of the story. It also includes a gallery of variant covers, as well as Quesada’s character sketches and pencils for the first issue.

Admit it, when you think “Marvel Knights”, you think Daredevil. If you’ve never read this story before, or you read it back in the day but don’t own the collection, now’s the time to pick it up with the MKXX edition of Guardian Devil.

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Disney Is Launching An Oscar Campaign For Black Panther

By

Jonathan Bruce

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September 14, 2018

All hail the king of Wakanda. Black Panther is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. The film is also on Netflix for the time being- before the Disney streaming service is ready next year. But there’s one platform Disney is really pushing T’Challa towards – the Oscars.

That’s right. Marvel is making a bid for Best Picture and all the major awards.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Company are launching a campaign for the Academy Awards.

This comes shortly after the Academy did consider a Best Popular Film category. However, the final vote on that notion was “Nay”, because a number of Academy members did not like the idea. Still, the decision does cause this writer to wonder why the Oscars won’t take superhero movies seriously.

The For Your Consideration list covers all the major categories. Kevin Feige is on the list for Best Picture, while Ryan Coogler is there for Best Director and (with co-writer Joe Robert Cole) Best Adapted Screenplay. Chadwick Boseman is there for his regal take on T’Challa. While he did give an emotional performance in Civil War, Boseman is able to show conflict and stoicism in this film.

Michael B. Jordan, Forest Whitaker, David Kaluuya, Andy Serkis are in the Best Supporting Actor category. Of all these names, Jordan is most likely to score a nomination for his take on Eric Killmonger. His work in Fruitvale Station and Creed did receive acclaim and awards, but he has yet to receive an Oscar nod. Whitaker, Kaluuya, Serkis and Sterling K. Brown also deliver solid performances.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUhvuzwCcQo[/embedyt]

In the Best Supporting Actress category, Black Panther has quite a few possibilities. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, and Angela Bassett are in the running for potential Oscar campaigns. Nyong’o is an Oscar winner for Twelve Years a Slave, while Bassett has a Best Actress nomination for What’s Love Got To Do With It? Gurira and Wright could also sneak in there and clinch nominations.

The campaign includes all the technical categories. These include Best Visual Effects, Best Makeup, Best Costuming, Best Cinematography, and Best Score. Black Panther could stand a chance of scooping up several awards.

Also, “All The Stars” could be a possible Best Original Song nominee. No doubt a Kendrick Lamar and SZA duet would be a great performance at the Oscars. After all, it is not unusual for a hip hop song to score a nomination and eventually win. Remember “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp” from Hustle and Flow?

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQbjS0_ZfJ0[/embedyt]

To date, no comic book movie has been able to score a Best Picture nomination. The Dark Knight won two Oscars in 2009- including Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger- after receiving six nominations. However, The Dark Knight‘s omission from the Best Picture category is seen as a major snub.

None of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films have won an Oscar, let alone score a nomination. Curiously, the DCEU does have them beat in that regard with a Best Makeup win for Suicide Squad.

What are your thoughts? Will Black Panther receive Oscar nominations? Can it reach that elusive Best Picture category? Sound off below.

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DC UNIVERSE: Images From TITANS Episode 1 and 2

By

Matthew Sardo

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September 14, 2018

The DC UNIVERSE Digital Subscription Service launched today and with it came more photos from the first two episodes of TITANS.

TITANS is the first original series for the DC UNIVERSE platform and will be available on October 12. The first season will be 13 episodes.

About the series:
TITANS follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and loveable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes.

TITANS Cast:
Brenton Thwaites – Dick Grayson
Teagan Croft – Raven
Anna Diop – Koriand’r (Starfire)
Lindsey Gort – Amy Rohrbach
Minka Kelly – Dawn Granger
Ryan Potter – Beast Boy
Alan Ritchson – Hank Hall
Bruno Bichir – Chief
April Bowlby – Elasti-Girl
Jake Michaels – Cliff Steele
Dwain Murphy – Negative Man

Photos From TITANS S01E01

TITANS: Images From Episode 1 and 2 — Titans Ep. 101–Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie / ©2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved

Photos From TITANS S01E02

DC UNIVERSE cost $7.99 per month or $74.99 annually, membership includes exclusive original live-action and animated series, classic TV series and films, a curated selection of digital comic books, breaking news including the all-new DC Daily show, an expansive DC-centric encyclopedia, and access to exclusive merchandise, according to DC Entertainment press release.

What do you think of the above images, are you going to subscribe to DC UNIVERSE? Comment below with your thoughts.

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JON KASDAN Drops SOLO Easter Eggs With Digital Release

By

Daniel Forster

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September 14, 2018

Today marks the digital release of Solo: A Star Wars Story and to celebrate the occasion, Jon Kasdan dropped over 50 Easter eggs about the film on Twitter. Catering to the fact obsessive fans, Kasdan includes references to Star Wars movies and more. It’s a smart marketing, beating the click-bait list sites to the punch while targeting hard-core fandom.

The Kasdan List (as we’re officially dubbing it) includes more than a few treats like this one.

“One action sequence that was never filmed but survived several drafts deep into production, involved Becket’s crew leaving WITHOUT Han and Chewie.”

Kasdan then goes on to say this “forced Solo and Chewbacca to steal an Imperial garbage ship on which they could escape.” Because original trilogy fans are obsessed with Imperial garbage, obviously.

In honor of the digital release of #SoloAStarWarsStory & in lieu of a commentary, here are 53 random factoids & notes about the making & writing for anybody who's interested. If you haven't seen the movie yet… maybe watch it before reading? Anyway, enjoy the movie & #MTFBWY pic.twitter.com/wHy1seDuoL

— Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) September 14, 2018

Other Easter eggs include Jon admitting the fake thermal detonator story was put in because Han did tell Leia about it years later. Which obviously influenced her decisions in Return of the Jedi.

Will The Kasdan List Boost Home Sales?

Solo: A Star Wars Story did not perform well at the box office. Considering its massive budget, Disney is hoping to make up ground with digital and Blu-ray sales. Deleted scenes have been dropping for the last week, without much excitement. Perhaps, the Kasdan list could breathe some fresh air into what many perceive as a stale product.

Judging by the home sales of The Last Jedi, Solo should perform above average. Yet, the disappointing box office numbers still hang over the movie like a dark cloud. We’re glad to see the marketing department at Disney taking a different approach with the Kasdan list. Whether it will help with opening week sales for the digital release remains undetermined.

continued pic.twitter.com/z6gYxDrP8d

— Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) September 14, 2018

The digital release of Solo: A Star Wars Story is today (September 14^th). September 25^th marks the release of the Blu-ray and DVD.

What are some of the facts from the Kasdan list you find shocking and appealing? Are you planning on purchasing Solo? Let us know in the comments below!

“May the Force be with you, always.”

Source: Jon Kasdan

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DC Announces SWAMP THING HALLOWEEN HORROR SPECIAL, More 100-Page GIANT Titles

By

David DeCorte

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September 13, 2018

The folks at DC have a special treat for you kids this Halloween. The publisher announced an expansion to their line of 100-page, Walmart-exclusive Giant titles, and first up: Swamp Thing Halloween Horror Special, according to local sources.

The 100-page Swamp Thing one-shot will ship October 4. Copies should arrive in the 3,000 Walmart stores currently stocking DC titles by October 7 and retail for $4.99. No information has yet been released about the creative teams involved or any content planned for the one-shot specials. However, we do know it will not be the only release.

The Swamp Thing Halloween anthology will be followed by an 80-page DC holiday special, which is set to hit shelves by November 11 and will also retail at $4.99. The Flash, plus another undisclosed character, will join the line sometime early next year.

Expanded Anthology Line Opens the Door for Controversy

DC’s 100-Page Giant line debuted back in July with series featuring Superman, Justice League of America, Batman, and Teen Titans. The anthology books proved to be a quick success, but they have not been without controversy.

Because the books are Walmart exclusives, many fans—and comic shop owners—argue they direct business away from traditional, independent outlets. Defenders of the exclusive anthologies respond that, because of their place at Walmart stores, the books reach a broader consumer base outside the traditional comic shop crowd. The books, most of which are targeted at the tween and young-teen market, have the potential to introduce new readers to classic characters and stories.

DC publisher Dan DiDio is a fan of the books, and is eager to expand. “I’m really excited about the program,” he says. “It’s a great way to get our books into people’s hands.” In addition to new series, DiDio hopes the books will eventually find a home in every Walmart store.

Either way, the anthology line shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. As DiDio explains, “we plan to stick with Walmart for the time being. It’s been a successful program.”

What do you think? Are you excited for the Swamp Thing Halloween Horror Special and other new titles in the 100-Page Giant line? Or do you think the line is harmful to comic shops and the industry at large? Leave your comment below and sound off!

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MARTIAN MANHUNTER Lands This December

By

David DeCorte

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September 13, 2018

Steve Orlando and Riley Rossmo promise “the Martian Manhunter story” this December. The 12-issue Martian Manhunter will take readers where we’ve never been before: J’onn’s past, according to a Hollywood Reporter exclusive.

The upcoming series is one-part detective story, with J’onn attempting to solve a grisly murder. However, the heart of the story is a character piece, exploring J’onn’s life before coming to Earth. This will be the first Martian Manhunter title since 2015, and the creative team promises to make it worthwhile.

According to Orlando, Martian Manhunter will focus on giving J’onn the hero’s journey he never had. “Spider-Man let the burglar go. Bruce Wayne was too afraid to save his family. This book gives J’onn that moment,” he explains. “…we finally know the why. Why he strives to be so good on Earth, why he has this journey, because he’s never really had one before. All of our favorite characters overcome their faults, and we hope he’s going to do it here, but he has to have them first.”

Orlando and Rossmo have a history together, collaborating recently on Batman: Night of the Monster Men and Batman/The Shadow. Both creators seem drawn to the same aspects of the story, as Rossmo explains: “…the present timeline story felt kind of David Lynch-y to me, and I thought that would be the piece that I could really dig into…But the Martian stuff, the family stuff, has been really emerging as the part that really grabs me.”

Rossmo went as far as to say one point in the first issue “brings a tear to my eye.”

You can pick up Martian Manhunter #1 at your local comic shop this December. In the meantime, what do you think about the new series? Are you excited to delve into J’onn’s tragic past? Let us know in the comments!

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The MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN Returns in an All-New Series

By

Michael Stagno

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September 13, 2018

Thanks in part to the creative duo of Saladin Ahmed and Javier Garrón, Miles Morales will once again swing his way into the pages of his own series at Marvel.

The year is already shaping up to be one for the ages for Morales. He has had an appearance in Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man, he is set to star in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, of which, in some of the trailers, he’s sporting the Air Jordan 1’s, which is the best! But now, he (finally) will have yet another ongoing solo series.

The story will follow the teenager as he juggles his responsibilities as both a superhero and a high school student, a mirrored tale of that of one Peter Parker. Things in Brooklyn won’t stay quiet forever as numerous criminals start to appear, including Rhino, which means Morales will have to suit up and defend his city.

You might recall that this character was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli as part of the ever-expanding Spiderverse, a challenge that both Ahmed and Garrón are up for.

“Bendis has the following he does for a reason,” Ahmed said. “His writing was one of the things that brought me back to Superhero comics after years away, so I suppose there’s some intimidation factor. But here, as elsewhere in the Marvel Universe, I just try to respect the work of those who came before me, while still putting my own stamp on these characters. Marvel stories are built from layers — other creators had to help define Peter Parker further after Stan Lee and Steve Ditko or we wouldn’t have the Spider-Man we love today!”

Keep an eye out for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1, which will hit shelves on December 12.

Click HERE for the complete creators Q&A with Marvel.

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DC Comics Exclusive Preview: NEW CHALLENGERS #5

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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September 13, 2018

New Challengers #5 hits your local comic book store on September 19th, but thanks to DC Comics, Monkeys Fighting Robots has a four-page exclusive preview for you to check out.

The title is one of the “New Age of Heroes” series that spun out of Dark Nights: Metal, and the only series of the group that Metal writer Scott Snyder works on. New Challengers, like the rest of the “New Age” books, introduced a new, fresh cast of characters while recapturing a classic sense of comic book fun. With Challengers, Snyder and company go for an adventure vibe by forming a new Challengers of the Unknown, a team of adventurers originally created by Jack Kirby in the late 1950s.

About New Challengers #5:
The team returns to Challengers Mountain, only to find it completely obliterated! And without the mountain to replenish their borrowed time, it looks like they’re out of second chances. But for the Challengers to live to fight another day, they’ll need to use a power with a consequence that spells certain doom!

The issue is written by Aaron Gillespie and Scott Snyder, with pencils by V Ken Marion, inks by Sandu Florea, colors by Dinei Ribeiro, and letters by Deron Bennett. Brad Anderson worked on the cover with Marion and Florea.

Issue five is the penultimate issue of the series before it concludes with issue six on October 17th.

Check out the full preview:

Are you reading New Challengers? Comment below with your thoughts, and tell us what YOUR favorite “New Age of Heroes” comic has been.

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STAR WARS RIVALS: Another Failed Cash Grab Mobile Game

By

Daniel Forster

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September 13, 2018

Disney once again rocks the gaming world, canceling the mobile game Star Wars Rivals while still in beta. In what many viewed as another failed cash grab free-to-play game, those who participated in the beta reported many issues. Things like poor reviews and backlash from over-priced items apparently led to the game’s demise.

In an official statement from Disney, the mobile game is being “retired.” Star Wars Rivals is no longer available as a download and those who have the beta will be able to play up to October 11. Disney, however, wasn’t done digging another hole.

“No refunds or credits will be offered for any virtual goods game currency or other items purchased by or provided to you.”

Considering the amount of backlash Disney took over Battlefront II and its original loot crate system — now is not the time for stinginess.

Where Star Wars Rivals Went Wrong

Split screen gameplay of Star Wars Battlefront II — Image via starwars.com, EA, and Lucasfilm

Rivals proclaimed itself a top-notch mobile PvP, featuring guilds and various arena’s. Built like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes mashed with Battlefront II, it’s surprising Disney went this route. Especially when gamers are still having problems in Star Wars: Battlefront II. Yes, EA and Disney, we’re talking about the annoying sound glitch in “Galactic Assault.”

Reviews of Star Wars Rivals were mostly negative. According to a review posted on Android Police, Rivals is “a free-to-play corridor shooter rife with poor controls, repetitive levels, and loot crates that are explicitly tied to plenty of in-app purchases.”

Disney finished the statement with, “we appreciate your support and understanding.” Which likely leaves many Star Wars gamers frustrated and confused. Many want changes, but is Disney really understanding and supportive about it? Their actions say otherwise.

The Future Of Star Wars Gaming Post Rivals Debacle

Cover image of Star Wars: The Old Republic video game — Image via Lucasfilm, EA, and Bioware

With Star Wars Rivals reminding many why there needs to be an overhaul, the future of Star Wars games also comes into questioning. Battlefront II is in the process of making some positive changes. Although, there’s still plaguing issues.

Many were hoping for an MMORPG, harkening back to the days of Star Wars: The Old Republic. But that also seems to be taking a back seat. Now with the cancellation of Rivals, the alleged open world game in production by EA is coming under heavy scrutiny.

What are your thoughts on the cancellation of Star Wars Rivals? And are you happy with the coming Battlefront II changes? Will the open world game make it to a beta stage? Let us know in the comments. “May the Force be with you, always.”

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