Given the sheer scale and high expectations surrounding most Star Wars game projects, it’s no surprise that many ambitious titles get left on the cutting room floor. In just the last few years, we’ve seen many high-profile cancellations, most notably Aspyr’s initial take on the Knights of the Old Republic remake and a Mandalorian-led FPS from Respawn Entertainment.
The game in this article, however, was completely unknown until now. We’re talking about an unannounced project that was in the works at the now-defunct studio Echtra Games. Before owner Zynga closed Echtra in June of last year, the studio was developing a mysterious AAA action RPG. We have now discovered that this project was shaping up to be a Star Wars experience before its cancellation.
Gameplay and Animations for Echtra Games’ Star Wars: Magellan
Development of this RPG was <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303005013/en/Zynga-Acquires-Echtra-Games-Team-Led-by-Developers-of-Diablo-and-Torchlight-Franchises” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>originally confirmed in early 2021 as a collaboration with NaturalMotion, another Zynga subsidiary with prior experience handling the Star Wars IP. From that point until the studio’s shutdown, the exact nature of the game was kept strictly under wraps. However, our recent discoveries confirm the title bore the internal codename “Magellan.”
We know this as development materials for the project have finally come to light, courtesy of a former Echtra Games developer who uploaded a video showcasing the title to their personal portfolio. While we are keeping the developer anonymous for privacy reasons, the footage they shared gives us a clear window into what the studio had in the works.
In the clips we see a glimpse of gameplay and animations, played from a third-person perspective with a Mandalorian and a Jedi, in what’s described as a multiplayer ARPG with “shoot & loot” gameplay. As for the stylistic choice, it’s hard to miss the echoes of Star Wars: Hunters in the character designs, which tracks perfectly with the studios working together.
Among the recurring figures throughout the materials, we can spot two specific designs: a masked gunslinger referred to in files as “Triggerman”, and a blue Twi’lek Jedi labeled simply as “Cleric.” Whether these were meant to be fixed character presets or base templates for fully customizable heroes remains unknown.
The two classes can be seen fighting all kinds of Empire enemies that range from classic stormtroopers to heavy mechanized threats like giant droid bosses. To face these foes, players have access to a variety of signature abilities, including the Jedi’s force control and lightsaber combat, alongside the Mandalorian’s jetpack-assisted mobility, heavy gunfire, and a flamethrower. Another thing shown is the use of a variety of gadgets such as electric grenades and protection camp deployers.
The footage also provides a quick look at some work-in-progress missions, which feature objectives like locating a specific character or warehouse, destroying or hacking signal networks, and searching shipping containers. During these sequences, the game’s core loot element is on display, with players earning items like a “Booster Gear” from fallen enemies and opening reward chests scattered throughout the Imperial bases.
Outside of the video clips, we’ve also learned that the game was set to feature an “NPC Bond system.” This mechanic was integrated directly into the title’s larger narrative design strategy, suggesting that building relationships with non-playable characters played a meaningful role in the story alongside the action.
Beyond the combat snippets, the second section of the footage shifts to raw animation and rigging reels, offering a look at the project’s technical foundation. This segment showcases a wide array of character models and creature assets, ranging from standard stormtroopers and dual-wielding Mandalorians to alien beasts like a four-legged Gundark, hound-like predators, and heavily armored security droids.
All of this work was being developed in Unreal Engine 5, with a targeted release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Unfortunately, a strategic realignment within Zynga and Take-Two Interactive ultimately put an end to both the project and the studio. As a result of the closure, Echtra Games was unable to release a single title between its initial acquisition by Zynga in 2021 and its shutdown in 2025.
While fans still have plenty of upcoming Star Wars titles to look forward to, “Magellan” joins the likes of Project Ragtag and Aspyr’s KOTOR remake as another “what-if” in the franchise’s long history of canceled video games. Speaking of KOTOR Remake, you can take a look at what Aspyr was originally cooking up for Sony in our previous reports.
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