When players take to the skies in Star Wars: Squadrons later this year, they'll be flying ships customized to an impressive degree. During EA's recent Pilot Briefing, developers detailed the various ways players can tweak and improve their ships, ranging from weapon loadouts to the gloves a pilot wears.
Star Wars: Squadrons is a combat flight simulator being released by EA in October 2020. Set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, players will fly for both the crumbling Empire and the fledgling New Republic in a single-player campaign that will alternate between both sides of the conflict. Star Wars: Squadrons will also feature 5-v-5 online multiplayer.
Star Wars: Squadrons will not have microtransactions.
Star Wars: Squadrons Will Have Cosmetics for Both Ships and Pilots
Ships will have six component slots (seven if a ship has shields) divided between active and ive components. Active components are tied to primary weapons, auxiliary components such as torpedoes or astromechs, and countermeasures like missile jamming. ive components affect engines, hull, and shields and allow a player to tweak strengths or weaknesses of their overall starfighter. For instance, a player could equip a component that makes it harder for the enemy to get a missile-lock, but increases the delay-time on their shield recharge. Players will also be able to unlock up to five loadouts in Star Wars: Squadrons, allowing them to easily switch between preferred ship configurations, even inside matches.
Players will also be able to customize their ships on a cosmetic level in Star Wars: Squadrons. Cosmetic unlocks will be tied to Glory points and will allow players to adjust the look of their starfighter both inside and outside. This includes paint jobs, decals, and various items that can be hung in the cockpit. Players will also be able to change the look of their pilot, mixing and matching flight suits, helmets, leg wear, and more. New Republic pilots will be able to fly as non-humans, while Imperial pilots will be restricted to humans only. And if a player wants a more classic Star Wars experience, there will be a toggle to display all ships with their default looks, hiding the customized paint jobs of other players.
While the depth of the customization options remains to be seen, on paper EA appears to be giving players an impressive level of control over how their starfighters handle and look. While there will be a few cosmetics tied to Star Wars: Battlefront II. Combined with brief comments during the briefing from Lead Gameplay Designer James Clement about how players will be manipulating power management, shield balance, and more, it seems that Star Wars: Squadrons is shaping up to be the Star Wars: Tie Fighter successor that fans have been waiting decades for.
Star Wars: Squadrons will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 2nd, 2020.
Source: EA
