Summary
Since the massive critical and commercial success of theTotal War: Warhammertrilogy,Total Warfans have been waiting to see where Creative Assembly will take the franchise in the future. Although the studio has released a couple of historical strategy games in between, all eyes are on what IP the studio plans to crossover with next. Recently, rumors began to circulate that the next major IP will be none other thanthe iconicStar Warsfranchise.
IfTotal Waris truly planning on crossing over withStar Wars, then that sounds like a recipe for success. Combining the tried-and-true massive strategy battles Creative Assembly is known for with the expansive galaxy far, far away could result in one of the best strategy games in years and may even finally giveEmpire at Warfans their long-awaited follow-up. However, although that does sound exciting, there is a strong chance that whatever thisStar Warsstrategy game is may look and operate much more likeHalo Warsthan aTotal Wargame.
Star Wars Feels More Tailor-Made for the Halo Wars Formula
A Total War: Star Wars Game Would be a Risky Endeavor
If Creative Assembly were to delve into theStar Warsfranchise, then that would be a major first for theTotal Warseries. Up until now, the games have been relegated to either historical settings ortheWarhammerfantasy era. Through all of that, the studio has stuck with more melee-based periods with only a couple of games adding guns to the mix. But even when there are guns, those guns are often more archaic versions, and the series has yet to really expand upon them further.
SinceTotal Warhas not even explored one of the World Wars or any sort of vehicle-based era, bringing the series to theStar Warsfranchise would be a massive shift in direction. That galaxy not only has a wide assortment of vehicles and guns, but it would also require the studio to take the franchise to the stars with new space battles and multiple planets. All of that sounds like an intriguing premise, but with where the franchise is currently, it also seems like a very risky, and potentially even impossible, endeavor. However, that does not mean thataTotal War: Star Warsgameis out of the question.
Creative Assembly Has Already Played Around in Another Sci-Fi Universe
Just becauseTotal Warhas not touched modern or futuristic settings does not mean Creative Assembly is avoiding them. In fact, the studio actually took another iconic sci-fi galaxy for a spin back in 2017. That adventure came inthe form ofHalo Wars 2, which served as a sequel to the 2009 strategy spin-off. And while the game may not have been a massive hit, it was still a worthy addition to the RTS genre.
Instead of following inTotal War’s footsteps,Halo Wars 2was a different type of RTS experience. It still let players choose two different factions and had them duke it out on the battlefield, but instead of pitting massive armies against each other in a field, it was more similar to base-building games likeCommand and Conquer. That may have felt like a major departure for the studio, yet it worked out very wellwithin the context of theHalofranchise.
Star WarsandHalomay have many differences, but at their core, they are both sci-fi franchises filled with warring factions. As of now, Creative Assembly has only explored that type of IP through theHalo Warsformula, so there is a strong chance that this is exactly what the developer is planning to do withStar Wars. Although it may be cool to see aTotal War-like experience, that may be a bit too different from what has come before. Plus, fans have been clamoring for anEmpire at Warsequel for years, and the best way to deliver that would be through theHalo Warsframework.
Total War: Pharaoh
WHERE TO PLAY
In Total War: PHARAOH immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at the zenith of its power and experience the dramatic events that threaten its destruction. With dynamic real-time battles and incredible turn-based empire management, will you rise to become Egypt’s last great Pharaoh, or a conquering Great King of the Hittites? Or will you take command of the Sea Peoples’ bloodthirsty hordes and drive the Bronze Age Collapse?With the Bronze Age Collapse looming and the dark sails of the Sea Peoples filling the horizon the people of Egypt cry out for a new leader. Many desire the power of the throne, but the path to becoming Pharaoh is a perilous one. Unearth a breathtakingly vibrant recreation of the Bronze Age Collapse as you battle societal disarray, face natural disasters and fight to protect your people against waves of invaders.Enemy armies aren’t the only challenges to overcome on the battlefield. Lead your soldiers through sudden and dramatic shifts in weather, such as torrential rain and sandstorms, and witness the tides of battle turn as it directly impacts the surrounding terrain. Beware the threat of fire too, as battles can become engulfed in flames, striking and spreading across the battlefield as it burns forests and damages the foundations of enemy settlements.
