The Star Wars gaming slate is always under the spotlight, with industry experts and fans alike keeping an eye on what Lucasfilm and indeed Lucasfilm Games has in store for the future of the franchise. In recent years, the Star Wars brand's commitment to quality gaming has been reinforced, and modern releases have indicated that with the right partnerships, Lucasfilm Games can set up the series for success in this medium across the current landscape. And yet, despite the accolades that recent launches have garnered, and the overall positive reception to the likes of Star Wars: Hunters or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Lucasfilm Games is also curating another side to its slate that is being overlooked.

Lucasfilm Games' strategy appears to be one of nostalgia and reminiscence, as fans are able to relive the glory years, before all of Disney's contributions to the franchise. The franchise has entered a new era: one that praises the past and looks to the future simultaneously. Just like the Force, there can be no light without the dark, and that means that every title in the Star Wars archive appears to be getting the same treatment, regardless of its reputation.

Before Disney, there was the expanded universe, an era of exploration and imaginative storytelling that didn't have to confine itself to a specific set of rules. Sure, there was a general canon narrative to stick to, but projects were able to move freely and tell tales in the way creators saw fit. In this era, there were all manner of unexpected video games that managed to cement themselves in the minds of fans. Whether it's the Star Wars: Dark Forces saga, or perhaps Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its sequel, these titles were able to take risks that simply would not be accepted by the studio today.

It may be deemed to be a messy path to follow, one with contradictions and an ever-expanding lore that appears impossible to penetrate to outsiders. Alas, there were downsides to these choices for certain, but somehow there was accessibility too, as each game stood by itself, backed by decades of potential that could be lightly tapped into.

This was an era where the video games might not have crossed over with the novels and comics quite so much, but LucasArts was able to thrive. Some true gems were crafted, which set the stage for what Star Wars would become within the video game space.

And then the Disney acquisition happened, and that sense of unpredictability was entirely removed. The timeline was reset,, and many of them became completely unavailable to purchase or play. It was an era of nostalgia for many, with fans looking back on this Wild West period as one of prosperity and growth.

But the Disney years were also kind, gifting players with new series that perhaps would not have been possible under the old guard. The Star Wars Jedi saga was able to find its feet, while the likes of Star Wars: Squadrons indicated Lucasfilm Games was still prepared to explore other genres. There are parallels and contrasts to be drawn from these two distinct eras: the before and the after.

Before Disney's arrival on the scene, there was chaos, but far more titles to enjoy, many of which dragged both the franchise and the industry forward. After Disney's acquisition, there was a more focused plan to forge ahead with; the characters and narratives having a major impact on other areas of the brand. There will be those who pledge their support to both periods and those who will pick sides, but Lucasfilm has come up with a clever plan to please everyone and expand its slate to ensure that the company's storied history is genuinely honored.

Protecting the past can be a difficult thing, but for this era to truly survive, it has to be shown to a new generation. Luckily, Lucasfilm Games and Disney have decided to do just that and bring back a whole roster of prior hits and misses, to ensure that modern fans grow up with these classics.

So, the company has invested in remakes and ports, which take those games and update them for modern consoles. While the flavor and mechanics of the originals have been fully secured, there are minor updates to be made, that ensure they run a lot more smoothly in the current state of the medium.

Aspyr has been a massive player in all of this and has largely been the studio that Disney and Lucasfilm Games have turned to for support. While it has a long history of porting Star Wars games, dating back to 2002 when Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds and Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast required releases on Mac, the studio has really come into its own in recent years.

In fact, the company has worked on 23 different Star Wars titles in its varied timeline, with more on the way. Aspyr is a crucial part of this puzzle and one that should not be ignored as the success of this strategy is reviewed.

With or without Aspyr, Lucasfilm Games has allowed a real range of titles to be showcased in this new forum, each mechanically different from the last. There are the Star Wars: Battlefront games, for instance, which cemented a specific franchise and appealed to players across the world. The ports of that original duo flew off the shelves, as fans were taken on a trip down memory lane. Then there's Star Wars: Episode I - Racer and other such titles that were specifically designed to cater to the cinematic releases of the time period.

Games like these would never be made today and are a genius bit of promotion with a timeless edge. Each time one of these throwback games is released, whether it's Star Wars: Republic Commandos or Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, it connects with a certain section of the core fan base, and harks back to a really special era.

It indicates just how much Star Wars gaming has developed and is also an opportunity to . The Nintendo Switch has also been a huge player in this, and while other platforms have played host to this throwback mission, it is the Japanese console that has made the most of the return of these titles, hitting new players in a familiar and accessible way.

What's so perfect about this strategy is that it also highlights that without messing with the canon timeline. When Disney first acquired Lucasfilm, it created the Legends line. The expanded universe, largely in its published form, was brought under that banner.

All of those stories were republished and told as if they were rumors or myths within the Star Wars universe, passed down from generation to generation across the galaxy. Sagas like the Thrawn trilogy, or all the novels and comics connected to the Old Republic era were all stamped with the Legends logo and released to new acclaim.

That's exactly what's happening with the video games now. They are being officially recognized as part of that tapestry, which is particularly vital as the brand moves forward. Just like those Old Republic books might be classed as part of that alternative timeline, the games that started it all can now also sit comfortably alongside them.

The same can be said for memorable arcs like that of Kyle Katarn, who has yet to be mentioned in the canon universe. Fans can rest assured knowing they can still access that character and his many twists and turns, in a medium they loved and in games they were deeply connected with.

What's old is new again and by reminding current audiences about some of these narratives and figures, there is also an opportunity to reinvent them for the canon timeline. That's exactly what happened to characters like Thrawn, for instance, who received a new trilogy of novels and can now be found in shows like Ahsoka.

Why can't Kyle Katarn's return on consoles lead to a Disney+ debut? Why can't Starkiller finally be introduced as Darth Vader's other apprentice, perhaps to battle back against Ahsoka Tano? The very arrival of these games on modern platforms will raise further questions that Lucasfilm may dare to answer.

Then there's that notion that these titles are being protected and that the Legends timeline can put the focus back on forgotten favorites. Most people knew Starkiller's journey even if they didn't play through it themselves, because of the popularity of the Star Wars: Force Unleashed consoles.

But how many of the younger generation are aware of the tale of Darth Revan and the Shan family? Here is the opportunity to truly cement these moments as timeless aspects of the Star Wars story that should not be passed over and will continue to influence the franchise into the future.

It is perhaps no surprise that, looking to the future, Lucasfilm Games will continue to find that balance, between the old and the new. That past titles are still very much a part of the plan, and that old gems, perhaps ones fans never expected to return, will be launched on each new console that debuts.

No one would have predicted that Star Wars: Episode I - Jedi Power Battles would get its time to shine, for example, and yet that's just one of the latest games to get the port treatment and consequently grow its fan base due to its inventive mechanics and imaginative use of Star Wars lore. It's not the only game to debut soon, and there are larger fish to fry. The remake of Knights of the Old Republic, again entrusted to Aspyr, is an even stronger indication that Lucasfilm Games' understanding of its past will drive the future.

Here is a story too good to be left in the Legends timeline, and so a remake can bring it into the modern canon, reviving the Old Republic era as a whole and giving the gaming division a chance to showcase itself as a big part of the Star Wars galaxy. The narrative risks of that expanded universe can benefit the modern timeline, without creating the chaos that once existed in the mythology.

Interestingly, this all followed after the KOTOR titles received ports of their own, and it's not the only time this has happened. Indeed, Star Wars: Republic Commandos has already influenced Star Wars: The Clone Wars mythos, and that show also tapped into the tales of the Old Republic. And there's no telling what other ports could lead to characters returning, or .

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a classic example, but even a title as simple as Star Wars: Battlefront ultimately led to a remake that was able to tell an original arc of its own. What Lucasfilm is learning from all of this is that they can absolutely guide future choices based on this nostalgia. What's more, there is so much quality to be found among these gems, that it seems a shame to lose it forever.

So, the combination of the old and the new, the balance of Legends and canon, the protection of past titles for new audiences, and the way in which those classics could influence modern storytelling, all go to show that heading into the vault was the correct choice for Star Wars. The slate might allow players to relive the glory years, but it may also invite a new period of growth to begin.