Respawn Entertainment has finally dropped some details about the mysterious alien species shown off in the trailer forStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 hitStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.Star Wars Jedi: Survivorcontinues the story of Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan who survived the eradication of the Jedi first shown inStar Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.
Whenthe first official trailer forStar Wars Jedi: Survivordropped during the 2022 Game Awards,Star Warsfans immediately spun up their speculation engines as they tried to figure out who the brutish, grey-skinned alien enemy sizing up Cal was midway through the trailer. Some speculated that it was an enemy named Durge, who originally appeared in the Genndy Tartakovsky animatedClone Warsseries from 2003. Turns out fans were close, but still wrong.
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Speaking with IGN, Respawn Cinematic Director Dori Arazi and Lead Writer Danny Homan revealed that the mysterious alien is not Durge, but he is of the same species. His name is Rayvis. He and Durge are members of an obscure species inStar Warscanon called the Gen’dai. The Gen’dai are nearly immortalas Obi-Wan Kenobi found outfirsthand in Tartakovsky’sClone Warsseries. Their bodies are made up of a cluster of tentacles that can regenerate after taking damage that would kill any other species. That orange suit of armor Rayvis wears in the trailer isn’t for protection, it’s to keep his body from flopping around like a bunch of loose spaghetti.
The Gen’dai became a nomadic species after their home planet was destroyed. Their regenerative qualities and warrior mentality made them natural-born bounty hunters. Their long lifespans give the Gen’dai a perspective on the rise and fall of empires that few other species inStar Warscanon possess. That perspective will informCal’s journey throughoutStar Wars Jedi: Survivoras a Jedi who watched the Republic fall and who hopes to bring down the totalitarian Empire that replaced it. As members of groups that were nearly wiped out, both Cal and Rayvis know what it’s like to feel the loss of their tribe and the difficult journey of finding their place in the galaxy.
That’s where their paths diverge. Cal is only a few years removed from the loss of his Jedi brethren and the fall of the Republic. Rayvis brims with the confidence that comes with knowing who he is because he’s already walked that path, potentially thousands of years ago.Cal is still figuring out his placein the larger story of the Jedi and his purpose. Above all, Rayvis’ ability to survive not just because of his physiology but because he’s had thousands of years to figure out his place amidst the rise and fall of several empires will be what makes him the perfect mirror for Cal’s own journey. That makes a Gen’dai character a rather fitting addition to a game subtitled “survivor.”
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorreleases April 28 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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