Image credit: EA

A new Star Wars Jedi game might be coming a lot sooner than expected. Industry insiders are now pointing to 2026 as a realistic release window for the final chapter in Cal Kestis’ story.

TL;DR

Industry chatter suggests the final Star Wars Jedi game (Cal Kestis’ trilogy finale) could launch in 2026 — earlier than most fans expected.

The rumor gained traction after comments on the Kinda Funny podcast, where hosts hinted a reveal may be close, with speculation pointing to a May announcement (Star Wars Day) and a possible September release.

A 2026 window is believable on paper: Jedi: Survivor launched in 2023, and with existing tech/pipeline plus fewer disruption factors than the COVID era, a three-year turnaround is realistic for Respawn.

EA’s silence doesn’t necessarily kill the rumor — it could signal a shorter, concentrated marketing push instead of a year-long campaign.

Player expectations for the finale are clear: better performance at launch, tighter pacing than Survivor’s wider zones, and a strong narrative payoff for Cal and the crew.

Important tips: Treat 2026 as unconfirmed until EA/Respawn shares an official reveal; if it’s real, watch Star Wars Day (May 4) and late-summer announcements for the first concrete signals.

Most fans were bracing for 2027 or later, so if this holds up, it would be a genuine surprise and one of the fastest turnarounds in recent Star Wars game history.

Development Rumors and Sources

The rumor kicked off during an episode of the Kinda Funny podcast. Host Tim Gettys mentioned he had heard some things that suggest a reveal is right around the corner.

While he didn’t drop a date, the way it was framed made 2026 sound very likely. People familiar with the podcast know these hosts talk regularly with developers and publishers, and when they hint, it usually means there’s something real behind it.

Star Wars Jedi Sequel: Release Window Speculation

The current guess is an announcement in May, lined up with Star Wars Day, followed by a full release in September. That would be three years after STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, which launched in 2023.

For comparison, the gap between STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor was four years, but that cycle was slowed down by COVID-19 lockdowns. With fewer external disruptions and much of the tech already in place, a three-year turnaround is absolutely doable.

Respawn’s Track Record

This timeline makes a lot of sense when you look at how Respawn works. These are the people behind Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and the entire Jedi series. They’ve handled massive projects and tight deadlines without missing a beat.

They also have a stable pipeline working with EA and Lucasfilm Games, which helps keep things moving behind the scenes. For a studio like this, hitting 2026 isn’t a stretch but well within reach.

EA’s Silence and Marketing Strategy

So far, EA has said nothing. They didn’t show any trailer or teaser, not even a logo drop at The Game Awards. Some fans saw that as a bad sign, but it could be part of a bigger play.

Instead of dragging out the marketing for over a year, EA might be holding everything back for a short, focused push starting on May 4th. Star Wars Day is a spotlight moment, and launching a campaign then would catch all eyes at once.

What Players Want From the Finale

Fans already know what they want this time around. The launch version of Survivor had some performance problems, so stability and polish are a big deal. Many players are also asking for more structure, as some of them felt that Survivor’s wider areas lost the tight pacing Fallen Order nailed.

But above all, they want a strong finish for Cal and his crew. With current-gen hardware, there’s hope Respawn can go all-in on visuals, combat smoothness, and story payoff.

The Jedi Series in EA’s Star Wars Timeline

This trilogy has become the bright spot in EA’s long, mixed history with the Star Wars license. A lot of planned games under EA never made it out of pre-production. Others were quietly shelved.

The Jedi series is the one project that delivered both critical and commercial wins. It’s now the go-to example of how to do Star Wars right in a single-player format. If this third game lands well, it might lock in the trilogy as one of the best Star Wars gaming stories ever told.

Why a 2026 Launch Would Matter

Dropping this game in 2026 would put Respawn right in the middle of the AAA race. That holiday window is already heating up, with GTA 6 looming and other franchises pushing for attention.

At the same time, the Star Wars brand is shifting. Kathleen Kennedy is expected to step down from Lucasfilm, and other big titles like Starfighter are building momentum. If EA gets the timing right, the next Jedi game could steal the season and cement the series as a core piece of modern Star Wars.