Overwatch clones have been around for a while, and few manage to break the mould with titles like Valorant and Marvel Rivals.
MR was a huge success thanks to its mix of gameplay and popular IP, but as it turns out, a game can still have that formula and not be a success—just ask Star Wars: Hunters.
What is Star Wars: Hunters?
Star Wars: Hunters was an Overwatch clone made for mobile that had a roster of original characters, each inspired by different factions from a galaxy far, far away. Instead of established characters like Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader, the game provided a mix of unique heroes like a droid with Jedi abilities and a Mandalorian warrior (among others).
The game was announced in 2021 but delayed for three years until it launched in 2024. Less than a year later, the game announced it would shut down in October after the developers said a PC port was underway.
So why was Hunters a flop when it had the same formula as Marvel Rivals?
It’s in the Execution
There are multiple reasons for Hunters' major failure, but some think it is related to its choice to be released only on mobile and Nintendo Switch and the fact that it took forever to release.
Because of its mobile format, the gameplay couldn’t be developed as extensively as other hero shooters. While some thought the PC release would eventually get the game on the map, it was canceled before it could get its second wind on other platforms.
If anything, some think that it also had something to do with EA having exclusive rights to Star Wars when the game was being developed:
When compared to Marvel Rivals, it was announced the same year it was released, and by the time the game went live, the devs already had years of incoming content in the works. It was available on all major platforms, and everyone could immediately jump into the world.
It also doesn’t hurt that Rivals took a leaf from Overwatch’s book and made sure that every character had sex appeal.
Could a Star Wars Hero Shooter Work?
With EA losing exclusivity to Star Wars, maybe there’s room for another developer down the line to take on the challenge of a Star Wars hero shooter.
The closest fans have to a hero shooter is probably Star Wars Battlefront II, which has a Hero vs. Villains mode. In this mode, players form teams of fan-favorite characters with unique abilities. It’s not as extensive as an actual hero shooter, though, and the game still looks impressive.
As for Star Wars: Hunters, the game will still be playable up to October; from that point, it’s going the way of other titles like MultiVersus and Concord. Check it out while it’s still playable for mobile and Nintendo Switch.