Star Wars: Squadrons is an upcoming first-person space combat game featuring a full single-player campaign, multiple game modes, and cross-compatibility on PS4, PSVR, PC, PC VR, and Xbox One.
Excellent preview video of Star Wars HQ:
We still haven’t had a chance to test the game for ourselves and nobody has any impression for their virtual reality support that we have found, but a lot of hands-on advancements for the game’s non-VR format were released today.
As far as we can tell, only featured non-VR gaming posts were included in the round of advancements. After reviewing the new impressions and watching several new game videos, we’ve put together a list of some conclusions worth mentioning.
There are many customization options
We already knew there would be two types of customization in Star Wars: Squadrons in terms of cosmetic changes like paint jobs and the like, previously previewed in the screenshot, as well as loading customization. There are dozens of different components to choose from, so not only will two ships of the same class not look the same in one game, but they won’t play the same either.
Once we know more about the customization options, we hope to dig as deep as possible. It is also worth noting that you will be able to get small bobble heads as cabin decor items as well as character and ship holograms.
There is also zero microtransactions according to EA. Everything is won only in the game.
There’s a lobby and an immersive pre-game hangar
Looking at all the new images and coverage from Star Wars: Squadrons today, two things really stood out to me in the Star Wars headquarters video preview: There’s a very detailed pregame lobby and a hangar that allows you to sit in any of the booths outside of a match. Both of these things will greatly help the game feel as immersive as possible in virtual reality.
The pre-game lobby allows you to look around the battle map at your teammates while on board a capital ship. It seems like a really detailed and intricate environment. Then you can look to the side towards the Hangar door and go adjust your cargo, customize the ship, or just sit in the cabin of any of your various Starfighters. I have a feeling this will be a great way to get used to the design before diving head first.
I can’t count the number of times a fun virtual reality game has failed to stay immersed due to flat and floating 2D menus. It’s reassuring to know that EA Motive seems to approach this game with immersion as a primary motivator.
Every starfighter’s cabin is extremely different
If you’re curious to see what each of the eight different Starfighters look like from inside the cockpit, then look no further. This PCGamer video breaks down each of the different views in the game to give you an idea of how not only will your view of the battlefield change depending on your ship, but also the location and style of its instruments.
Choosing a starfighter is as much about harnessing its capabilities as it is adapting to your cabin. Both VR and non-VR players will be able to watch freely, but VR users can (presumably) do so more easily without sacrificing control of the ship.
The gameplay is reminiscent of the classic X-Wing and TIE Fighter Space Flight Sims
From what we’ve seen and read about Star Wars: Squadrons, the gameplay is absolutely a cross between a pure arcade-style shooting game and a space flight simulation. It seems like a kind of middle ground between the relative simplicity of EVE Valkyrie and the sometimes overwhelming complexity of Elite Dangerous.
Managing the ship’s power levels between engines, shields, and attack power will be a large part of the metagame’s skill limit and will likely greatly influence your combat efficiency. However, the moment-to-moment gameplay, in terms of how it feels, is very reminiscent of the late 1990s X-Wing and TIE Fighter PC space combat games.
Communication and good team composition are crucial
While it may seem like just four different types of ships aren’t that many, it’s more than enough once you dig into the details. Team composition is key here. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of combat class ships like X-Wing and TIE Fighter versus interceptor class ships like A-Wing and TIE Interceptor is crucial, in addition to bombers and support class ships. Coordinating attacks and conveying crucial information during defense is ridiculously important.
More than any other competitive multiplayer game, I imagine that voice communication through the microphone will be crucial here. Fortunately, each VR headset has a built-in microphone, so there isn’t much of an excuse.
We reached out to EA to discuss when / if hands-on sessions will be available for the game’s VR format. For more information on Star Wars: Squadrons, visit our coverage center here and our great information dump ‘Everything you need to know’ right here.
Let us know what you think of the new details today at the Comments below! For more information, check out what our friends thought of their hands-on demos at Polygon, PC Gamer, and The Verge.
