Before Outlaws, Star Wars Reportedly Canceled a Darth Maul Game That Had Super Realistic Violence

The Star Wars universe is known for its lore, beloved characters, and genre-defining cinematography. The three trilogies, the spinoff shows, and other media are all things that most fans are familiar with. But behind the scenes, its gaming history is littered with ambitious projects that never saw the light of day.

Among these lost treasures is Red Fly Studio’s untitled Darth Maul game. Designed as a gritty, hack-and-slash adventure showcasing the infamous Sith Lord, the game would’ve featured the character’s origin story alongside some above-average feeling combat. The project ultimately never came to life and remains a what-if.

The Star Wars Franchise Could’ve Been So Much Better in Terms of Video Games

The initial report for this came via Game Informer back in 2015. Unofficially titled Star Wars: Maul, was envisioned as a gritty action adventure with Maul at its core. Red Fly Studio began development in 2010, following their success with the Wii version of The Force Unleashed II.

Concept art from the cancelled Darth Maul game that was in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U: pic.twitter.com/nGhijcKNDo

— VGF (@VGFGamers) January 16, 2017

Initially planned as a Nintendo exclusive, the project expanded to include platforms like PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. However, communication issues with LucasArts and a lack of clear direction stopped progress.

George Lucas himself reshaped the project mid-development with another storyline featuring Maul and Darth Talon.

Lucas’s vision for a buddy cop dynamic between Maul and Talon clashed with the original darker tone of the game. This pivot created logistical challenges for Red Fly, as Talon’s timeline didn’t align with Maul’s. The developers tried to make these changes and attempted to make this new story work with the gameplay.

Here’s concept art for the cancelled Darth Maul game, which was not finished due to Disney picking up Star Wars

Art is by Thomas A. Szakolczay pic.twitter.com/8G5IxyLvpH

— Art of Lost and Cancelled Media (@ArtofLostandCan) January 5, 2021

After months of uncertainty, LucasArts cut ties with the studio in 2011, effectively shelving the game. The project’s demise highlighted deeper issues within LucasArts, which was struggling to find its identity amid corporate changes.

Red Fly attempted to pitch a revival to Electronic Arts (EA), the company that now controls the gaming side of the franchise. But these efforts were met with indifference, signaling the project’s demise.

We’ve Gotten a Whole Bunch of Underwhelming Games Lately

The game’s cancellation coincided with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, a move that dissolved LucasArts and handed Star Wars gaming rights to EA. This change ended up being a big turning point for the franchise as the new gaming division struggled to find its identity.

The Darth Maul game could’ve been a standout for its potential to explore darker themes and mature storytelling. Fans fans were already invested in the character of Darth Maul and were excited by the idea of stepping into into his boots.

E3 Demo Gameplay Footage for Star Wars 1313 which would’ve been an M-Rated 3rd Person Shooter.

It would’ve centered on exploring young Boba Fett taking various missions from crime lords from Coruscant’s slums called 1313.

The game was cancelled after Disney acquired Star Wars pic.twitter.com/JtHnCmboQs

— Art of Lost Media (@ArtofLostMedia) October 24, 2023

Years later, Star Wars games still haven’t been the best. While we’ve had decent success with the likes of Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor, the latest project from Ubisoft has had its share of struggles.

While Red Fly Studios has since moved on, the passion and creativity behind the project serves as a reminder of what’s possible when smaller studios are given the freedom to innovate.

Unfortunately, it’s something we will never see come to life. Which cancelled Star Wars game would you have liked to play?