Star Wars: More of the Cal Kestis Story is on the Way
With a new game, novel, and art book coming next year, we’re about to get a lot more of the Cal Kestis story.
Cal Kestis has one of those classic Star Wars stories. Jedi survivor of Order 66 turned scrapper turned Jedi again, Cal is a character with an immense amount of potential for storytelling. He was featured in the 2019 video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. But between surviving Jedi, Inquisitors, Night Sisters, run-ins with some of the biggest baddies in the galaxy, and a very positive response from critics and fans alike, it was clear that we all want to see a return to Cal and the crew of the Stinger Mantis.
Cal Kestis and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Unsurprisingly, in January 2022 it was officially announced that we would be getting more to Cal’s story with a sequel game. Jedi: Survivor is scheduled for a 2023 release set five years after the events of Jedi: Fallen Order. And in relation to the larger galactic timeline, this will be ten years after the events of Return of the Sith and nine years before A New Hope.
At this time the game has no official release date aside from sometime vaguely in 2023. But developer, Respawn, has said that they are planning on a PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC releases. We also don’t know exactly what the plot will be just yet. The only hint we have is the conspicuous lack of any of the crew of the Mantis aside from the adorable droid companion, BD-1. Whether that was a scene from a one-off solo mission or a bit split is incoming remains to be seen. But it’s a big galaxy with many enemies and nothing but plot potential.
And a few other tie-in projects for us to look forward to and speculate about.
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars and Jedi: Survivor Art Book
If there’s anything we know about Star Wars, it’s that they can’t and won’t leave a potential tie-in project on the table. Sometimes it makes us give a little side eye, but others, like in the case of giving us more of Cal Kestis’ story, for example, we’re excited to get more.
In addition to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, we have an upcoming novel, Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars to look forward to. The story is being written by Sam Maggs (Critical Role: The Nighty Nein Origins – Jester Lavorre, The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope, and Call of Dudy: Vanguard.) Battle Scars will follow Cal Kestis and the rest of the crew of the Stinger Mantis during an adventure set between the events of Fallen Order and Survivor.
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars is scheduled to hit shelves on March 7th, 2023.
And if that’s not enough, Jedi: Survivor is set to get its own art book. Personally, I love art books. The behind-the-scenes development notes and the early concept art always make the game itself somehow more interesting. So if you too are a fan of commentary from the developers and game history, you’ll want to be picking up the Jedi: Survivor Art book on May 2nd, 2023. Could that be a hint as to when we can expect the game to be available to play? I guess we’ll see!
Are you looking forward to the new additions to Cal Kestis’ storyline? Do you too enjoy a good artbook? Do you think the rest of the crew of the Mantis is gone, or just waiting for Cal and BD-1 elsewhere? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
