Despite the reveal of Darth Sidious and his iconic laugh at the end of the initial teaser for Episode IX, the most recent trailer debuted at D23 was far more compelling. It showed fans a dark and menacing version of Rey within the backdrop of past and present memories from the long history of Star Wars. Wielding a dual-hilted red lightsaber, very reminiscent of the unforgettable Darth Maul, Rey glows with a fiery intensity - one fans hope will be more than just a simple illusion.
Showcased in the animated television shows Clone Wars and Rebels, the foldable double-sided saber was used by Jedi Master Pong Krell, in addition to Jedi Temple guards, so it's not a new device. However, it leads into many more questions on the state of the universe. Since the trailer's release, speculation has run rampant: is Rey a clone? Is she the daughter of Palpatine? Has she completely gone over to the dark side? Episode IX may clear up all of our questions come December, but one question out of all has been plaguing our minds: will she be a new playable character in the upcoming Rise of Skywalker DLC update for Battlefront II?
The game has come a very, very long way since ridding itself of its rampant pay-to-win mechanics. Many of the developers on the inside are thankful for this change. As the game's design director Dennis Brännvall says in an interview:
"Not a day goes by without us thinking, 'Imagine if we hadn't launched with loot boxes the way we did.'"
It's clear they have smartened up, what with additions like Obi-Wan, Anakin Skywalker, General Grievous, and Count Dooku as proof alone. Most interesting is what EA and the DICE team have in store for players this coming holiday season. The roadmap for their forthcoming content not only looks and feels fresh, but there's also room for speculation. Bug fixes and new gameplay additions are clearly the focus, but the highly secretive special event scheduled for December has all of our eyes adjusting to the Force, attempting to peer into the many realms of possibilities.
Way back in 2017, there were plenty of fans wondering if Rey's parents would be revealed in Battlefront II. While the likelihood of that coming to fruition is slim to none, it's safe to assume her dark equivalent could make an appearance in the game. If not, there is a possibility that her dual-hilted lightsaber could be a usable weapon in Jedi: Fallen Order. Set for release this November, the upcoming game by Respawn will be the modern-day reintroduction to the Force all fans have been longing for since finishing The Force Unleashed series, which rank among the best Star Wars games.
Beyond that, even if Rey's foldable lightsaber isn't an easter egg in Fallen Order, there's still potential for a Rise of Skywalker adapted game. And, if that just isn't enough for you, there's always the notorious PC modding community, which has already had loads of fun with the new Dark Rey showcasing.
All speculation aside, both games and the film are set to pit the Star Wars community ablaze, even though incineration has been disallowed by Vader. The addition of a Clone Commando in Battlefront II is enough to keep us busy for a while, and leveling up Anakin is a challenge unto itself. A dark side Rey in Battlefront II would only serve to make the game that much more enjoyable. Though she is already fairly powerful, playing Heroes vs Villains as vanilla Rey is pretty difficult, due to her limited abilities. Her only truly effective power is Force persuasion, which merely confuses opponents. But with a potential dark version on the opposing side, it would be interesting to witness both Reys go toe to toe in combat.
Whether we see her in Battlefront II or not, Episode IX is gearing up to be this year's most anticipated adventure, now that the Endgame hype has dissipated. I'll be meditating on the force, hoping with all hope that an evil Rey sees the light of day in any of the upcoming titles.
Until then, may the Force be with you all.