Published Aug 23, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT
Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work.
Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work.
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Star Wars has been the ultimate source of inspiration for numerous sci-fi projects released since its inception, and it isn't hard to see why. Its planet-hopping spectacular adventures are increasingly enjoyable to watch, both on the big and small screen, and its forays into the world of video games, comics, and novels have proven immensely successful. Its fascinating lore, universe, and characters work in all formats, and consequently, creatives in all formats want to replicate it, either out of deep admiration and affection for the IP or in an attempt to replicate its success.
Naturally, an upcoming space opera epic looks to meld a little Star Wars into its core experience, delivering, at least in theory, the same highs as George Lucas' legendary franchise. It also hopes to sprinkle a dash of Mass Effect in there too, an equally brilliant series that has been criminally underutilized as of late. Fans of both should absolutely rejoice, as they're finally getting a new project like Mass Effect after the series has languished for years, and even more Star Wars-esque adventures to enjoy.
Star Wars fans haven't had a new video game since 2024's Outlaws and are still reeling from the recent cancellation of yet another Star Wars game. So, it is fitting that a new project should come along and, in theory, help bridge the gap between Outlaws and the likes of Zero Company. Mass Effect fans will similarly appreciate a new title, as the last mainline game in that series came out in 2017. Beyond the upcoming The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, which looks to offer a very Mass Effect-esque experience, there's little else for fans to get hyped about.
Hopefully, then, the upcoming indie title, Contraband: Edge of the Fold, can appease both fandoms as they patiently await the next major title in their respective favorite franchises. Contraband: Edge of the Fold is a third-person space combat title that blends blisteringly fast ship battles with a branching narrative. Fans of Star Wars get their X-Wing combat as they race past planets and stars, while Mass Effect aficionados get their multiple endings, warring factions that remember your actions, and meaningful consequences.
Contraband: Edge of the Fold is promising the world with its upcoming experience, and it is certainly possible that it could pull it off. We've seen many games like Star Wars with a fraction of the budget deliver genuinely great adventures that encapsulate everything great about the legendary franchise, so it is certainly possible it could work here too. The foundations for an epic space opera are there, and one can hope that developer Dero Lavigne can pull it off.
The game is officially available now, having launched on August 20, 2026, and costs around $16. Of course, it'll be up to prospective buyers to decide whether it is worth that price, but hopefully those who do end up giving it a try become engrossed in its dynamic narrative. At the very least, it is great to see smaller developers attempt to tackle something as ambitious as Star Wars meets Mass Effect, a dream combination that hopefully more games will attempt to implement.
First Film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Cast Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
English (US) ·