Welcome to the Greatest Show in the Galaxy. On the planet of Vespaara, the galaxy’s greatest fighters assemble in the Arena to compete for glory and credits. Star Wars: Hunters will introduce a unique original cast of characters, facing off in thrilling 4v4 arena combat. Join the Zynga and the Lucasfilm teams to learn about how this spectacle will come to life, hear developer insights, and see behind-the-scenes glimpses at upcoming content.

Panel Recap

Star Wars: Hunters: Welcome to the Greatest Show in the Galaxy gave fans a closer look at the multiplayer arena-combat game from Lucasfilm Games and Zynga. Amy Ratcliffe hosted the panel, joined by Jeff Hickman, Caitlin Conner, Anna Kay, Ross Burt, Kelsey Sharpe, and Craig Derrick.

The panel discussed the game’s setting, development, character design, and arena-combat premise. The team explained that Hunters takes place after the Battle of Jakku, during a period described as after Return of the Jedi and around the time of The Mandalorian. That setting informed character backgrounds, including former Imperial and Rebel Alliance or New Republic-aligned characters.

The team also discussed the development process. Jeff Hickman said Zynga created the initial prototype in two weeks after early brainstorming with Lucasfilm Games. The panel highlighted Utooni, the two Jawas in a trench coat, as an example of the game’s playful approach to Star Wars character creation. Caitlin Conner discussed the pair’s squabbling dynamic, while Kelsey Sharpe connected the character’s humor to a broader Star Wars tradition of balancing silliness and mythic storytelling.

The concept artists discussed the game’s visual style and character design. Ross Burt described using Ralph McQuarrie’s original trilogy concept art as a touchstone while still creating a distinct look for the game. Anna Kay discussed designing characters to be readable on both large and small screens. The panel also covered J-3DI’s design influences, including Huyang, archive droids from Attack of the Clones, and the challenge of representing fabric-like shapes in metal. The team also discussed character relationships, rivalries, friendships, outfit variations, and climate-influenced gear.