Star Wars: Hunters Can Still Leave Behind a Long Legacy After its Shutdown

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Originally scheduled for late 2021, the action game “Star Wars: Hunters,” developed by Zynga, was initially announced back in February 2021. However, due to some challenges along the way, it didn’t launch until June 2024, following a series of significant delays that stretched over three years. Despite a soft launch in certain regions in 2021, the full release was delayed multiple times before its final debut.

Regrettably, it appears that the initial release of “Star Wars: Hunters” didn’t live up to expectations, as expressed by several critics who reviewed it. Issues such as excessive microtransactions, unimpressive progression systems, and a lack of originality were commonly raised at launch. However, nine months post-release, Zynga announced that the servers for “Star Wars: Hunters” would be shut down entirely in October 2025. Yet, there’s still hope for “Star Wars: Hunters” to make a lasting impact.

Star Wars: Hunters’ Shutdown Doesn’t Need to be the End

Star Wars: Hunters’ Setting Opens Some Doors

Star Wars: Hunters is set during the period in Star Wars history that falls between the events depicted in Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Given that one of the game’s playable characters is a defector from the Imperial Stormtroopers, it can be inferred that Star Wars: Hunters likely occurs closer to the downfall of the Empire rather than the emergence of the First Order.

Most modern live-action Star Wars productions have been set within this specific time frame. The first season of The Mandalorian is set approximately five years after Return of the Jedi, while The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka follow shortly after. With upcoming seasons of Ahsoka and The Mandalorian and Grogu, there could potentially be opportunities to hint at or include elements from Star Wars: Hunters.

Star Wars: Hunters’ Characters Could Live On

Among the things that might persist after the closure of Star Wars: Hunters is its captivating ensemble of characters. This aspect of the game has often been commended by critics, who found the cast to be a lively and varied group, featuring numerous Outer Rim rogues, bounty hunters, and more. The Star Wars: Hunters lineup included Jedi droids, Rodian doctors, Wookie warriors, Zabrak archers, an AT-ST-riding Ewok, and 12 additional vivid characters.

Zero Company,” currently in development.

It’s possible, though rather uncommon, that certain characters might find their way into future live-action Star Wars projects. For instance, Zaina the Rebel war hero could seamlessly blend into any New Republic-focused production, while Aran Tal the Mandalorian Vanguard would fit perfectly among Bo-Katan and her tribe. Some characters, like the Jawa scavengers Utooni or bounty hunter Imara Vex, might even headline their own animated series. At minimum, it’d be delightful to see the diverse cast of Star Wars: Hunters featured in a future comic book.

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2025-05-29 15:09