Within the Star Wars galaxy, there is a thirty-year gap between the films Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Episode VII: The Force Awakens. While novels like Chuck Wendig‘s ongoing Aftermath Trilogy and Claudia Gray‘s Bloodline have been slowly filling in the blanks as to what happened during those unseen decades, one video game has been busy doing similar work.
Star Wars: Uprising is an MMORPG for mobile platforms, developed by an up-and-coming company called Kabam. The game’s lore ties into the immediate aftermath of Return of the Jedi, and offers some insight into the fallout from the Battle of Endor. Here are five things that we’ve learned from playing Star Wars: Uprising.
The Empire Survived Endor
The Battle of Endor at the end of Return of the Jedi symbolically represented the Rebel Alliance‘s defeat of the Galactic Empire. Yet, recent material like Chuck Wendig’s novel Aftermath and Greg Rucka‘s comic mini-series Shattered Empire have made it clear that the Empire survived Endor, albeit barely. As pivotal as it was, the Battle of Endor created opportunities for both sides of the Galactic Civil War. The rebels seized the chance to expand their galaxy-wide push for freedom, while the Empire morphed into a power grab, with top officials vying and squabbling for control.
The story line of Star Wars: Uprising is extremely self-contained, and the action occurs exclusively in the Anoat sector. Governor Adelhard has established an Iron Blockade, sealing off his sector from the outside galaxy. He relies on his Purge Troopers to control propaganda channels and suppress the news of the Emperor‘s death at Endor, though it is only a matter of time before the truth gets out. Adelhard doesn’t seem interested in helping the other Imperial factions reconquer the galaxy, so it will be interesting to see what becomes of the domain that he’s so neatly carved out for himself.
Some Smugglers Have Honor
If you thought that Han Solo was the only scoundrel with honor, think again. The player’s character is called The Smuggler and works with two organizations based in the Anoat sector: the Trade Spine League and the Ivax Syndicate. Both dabble in their fair share of unsavory business, but when the time comes, they do whatever it takes to ensure that the sector’s trapped civilians are fed and protected. Perhaps the Trade Spine League and the Ivax Syndicate might be interested in joining the Rebellion.
The Secret Leaders of the Anoat Sector
One of the more intriguing bits of lore from Star Wars: Uprising is the revelation that the Anoat sector has royalty — or should I say, nobility. The Noble Court is a government that once ruled the entire sector, but has since been forced into exile after the Empire deposed and hunted down its members. The Court is primarily comprised of gold-skin Nothoiins, though they have slowly accepted humans into their ranks. With all the hubbub from the Iron Blockade, the Nobles are only beginning to emerge from hiding.
The current leader of the Noble Court is a Nothoiin female known only as Her Majesty. Her ultimate plans for the Anoat sector — and for the burgeoning Uprising — remain unclear, especially since her interests seem to conflict with those of the Ivax Syndicate as well as the Kouhun, a sect of assassins. Still, it’s evident that the Nobles are once again becoming a powerful force in their home sector.
Can Force Powers Be Acquired?
Star Wars: Uprising has an interesting take on the nature vs. nurture debate (within a Star Wars frame, of course), in regards to the origin of Force powers. In the Star Wars galaxy, Force-sensitivity stems from microorganisms called midi-chlorians. However, the hardest series of missions in Uprising allows players to obtain access to — and train in — Force powers that are associated with both the light and dark sides of the Force. There’s even a familiar glowstick waiting for you at the end of your long journey, though it requires extensive (and expensive) repair work before it can be used.
Does The Smuggler have some latent Force-sensitivity? It’s not quite clear, but the Light Side and Dark Side Missions bring you into contact with the Noble Court advisor Xiath and the Nightsister Shelish, both of whom try to nurture the player character’s talents in the Force. Some of those Force powers are pretty darn cool, so you’ll just have to check them out for yourself!
Lando Left Cloud City
Even if you haven’t heard of the Anoat sector by name, chances are that you know about two planets within its borders: Hoth and Bespin, both featured in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Bespin is the location of Cloud City, famously overseen by Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian, before he evacuated his mining operation and left to join the Rebel Alliance. Uprising shows that in Lando’s place, a council of corporate representatives has assumed leadership over Cloud City, though it’s not without problems. Cloud City’s security force, known as the Bespin Wing Guard, has become innately corrupt, and The Smuggler must confront its members on several occasions.
The next major update to Uprising is poised to deliver a series of “Lando Missions,” which might showcase Lando’s return to Cloud City in some form. In any case, I’m looking forward to seeing more of the galaxy’s smoothest-talking scoundrel.
Keep checking Wookieepedia’s exclusive Super Walkthrough for the latest news and tips about Star Wars: Uprising!