Abracadabra, A Lost Galaxy! Modders Magically Revive LucasArts' Secret Star Wars: First Assault Beta on PC
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Modders have done the impossible, resurrecting LucasArts' cancelled *Star Wars: First Assault* beta, giving us a playable glimpse into the studio's ambitious vision for a true *Battlefront 3* that was tragically shelved by Disney.
Right, so remember how Disney basically dropped a Death Star on LucasArts back in the day, wiping out a whole galaxy of Star Wars gaming dreams? Yeah, rough times, mate. But what if I told you some digital wizards just waved their code wands and brought one of those lost dreams back from the abyss?
We're talking about *Star Wars: First Assault*, a game that was meant to be so much more than its humble title suggested. Picture this: late 2012, LucasArts had this multiplayer first-person shooter cooked up, all Stormtroopers, Rebels, classic era vibes, objective modes, team deathmatch – the whole shebang. Tatooine, Bespin, you name it. But here’s the kicker, the real juicy bit: this wasn't just *a* Star Wars shooter. Nah, mate, this was a stealth mission. A secret, glorious attempt to resurrect *Battlefront* before EA DICE even had a sniff of the license.
The plan, apparently, was a bloody ambitious one: *First Assault* kicks things off, a small-scale console romp in summer 2013. Then, a year later, a second game with vehicles and bigger maps. And finally, the grand finale in 2015: a proper, full-blown *Battlefront* complete with a single-player campaign and actual space dogfights. Sound familiar? It’s almost like they had a vision for what gamers *actually wanted* from a Battlefront title, well before the 'new' ones came along and left us scratching our heads over the lack of a proper single-player saga. Fair dinkum, it makes you wonder what kind of magic they were brewing.
But then, *boom*. Disney swoops in, acquires Lucasfilm, and proceeds to cancel a whole heap of projects faster than a Jedi mind trick. *Star Wars 1313*? Gone. *First Assault*? Poof. Apparently, the beta was just a measly ten thousand dollars away from hitting Xbox Live. Ten thousand! That’s like finding a single credit chip in Jabba’s palace and calling off the entire rescue mission. Absolutely bonkers, if you ask me, especially when you consider the potential this project held as the true successor to the beloved *Battlefront* legacy.
Fast forward to now, and it seems the force works in mysterious ways – particularly when powered by dedicated modders. A team, including the legendary iamashaymin, has managed to get an ancient, leaked build of *First Assault* running on PC servers. Many Bothans may have died to bring us this information, but these folks just resurrected it for us to *play*. That’s proper digital necromancy, that is, and it fills a curious wizard like me with genuine enthusiasm.
Now, I never got to cast a spell (or fire a blaster, more accurately) in the beta myself back in the day, but I heard whispers from the digital ether, courtesy of folks like Edwin Evans-Thirlwell who reported on it for OXM. Imagine a touch of Call of Duty – loadouts, secondary gadgets like terrain-denying repulsors (cheeky, I love it!) and frontal portable energy shields. Blasters, concussion rifles with proper knockback, apparently even ADS. And a streak system for turrets and airstrikes, which, let's be honest, sounds like a chaotic good time on the battlefield.
But here’s where it gets interesting, where it deviates from the standard FPS spellbook and hints at something genuinely innovative. Instead of just popping back in, you’d respawn in waves, swooping in on a dropship – and yes, you could even blast enemies on your way down. Then, if your team botched an objective, you’d have to scurry back to the launchpad for exfil. Sounds a bit like *Titanfall*, doesn't it? A game that came out *after* this was cancelled. Makes you wonder what magic LucasArts was brewing that was so ahead of its time, only for it to be consigned to the digital dustbin.
And the visuals? Bloody hell, they nailed the 'scraped and lived-in' Star Wars aesthetic. That Tatooine map, with its cracked and stained domes and obelisk AA turrets, looking like it’s seen a few too many sandstorms. Pitted, sand-caked Stormtrooper helmets that actually look like they’ve been to war. It wasn't about flashy new worlds; it was about getting the grit right. A genuine love letter to the original trilogy's art direction, something I reckon a few recent Star Wars games could learn a thing or two from. It’s authentic, it feels lived-in, and it makes you want to explore every dusty corner.
So, why does this matter now, over a decade later? Well, for starters, it’s a brilliant piece of gaming archaeology. It gives us a peek into a road not taken, a genuine LucasArts vision for *Battlefront 3* that was snatched away. It’s a testament to the power of community, of players and modders who care enough to dive into the digital debris and rebuild what was lost. It reminds us that sometimes the best innovation isn't always pushed by corporate giants, but by passionate folks who just want to see cool games exist, and who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty with ancient code to make it happen.
If you’ve got a hankering to jump into this resurrected piece of Star Wars history, you'll want to head over to the project's Discord server. Trust me, it’s a wild ride through a gaming 'what if' that’s finally become a 'what is'. Who knows what other relics are out there waiting for a digital wizard to bring them back from the void? Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to see if I can convince a dropship to land a bit closer to the objective. For the Empire, obviously.
This fantastic find and the original reporting on *First Assault*'s hidden history come courtesy of Edwin Evans-Thirlwell over at Rock Paper Shotgun. Cheers for the insights, mate!
Tags: Star Wars, Gaming History, Modding, Game Preservation, FPS
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun