Star Wars Jedi 3 release date could come in 2026, despite Respawn Entertainment shakeup
Cal Kestis seen in Star Wars Jedi trilogy (Image source: Steam, Respawn Entertainment with edits)
The final chapter in the Cal Kestis story may be ready sooner than gamers anticipated. A popular gaming industry personality sees a 2026 Star Wars Jedi 3 release date as a possibility. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor also avoided the long delays common with big-budget AAA projects.
Multiple Star Wars games, including Zero Company, are set to debut in 2026. However, few fans considered that Star Wars Jedi 3 might join them. While not a certainty, Tim Gettys, co-founder of Kinda Funny, made some revealing comments on a recent podcast. He believes that the follow-up to Jedi Survivor has a “solid chance of coming out this year.”
EA and Respawn Entertainment confirmed the title was in the works in 2022. Since then, gamers have heard little about the game that’s expected to complete the Cal Kestis saga. At The Game Awards in December, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic took center stage, even if it may not surface until at least 2029. Nevertheless, Gettys and his co-panel will be watching the Star Wars Celebration in May for a potential update.
There is reason to doubt that a Star Wars Jedi 3 release date this soon is realistic. Stig Asmussen, who directed Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor, left Respawn in 2023. The studio then experienced layoffs in 2024 and 2025, which impacted the developers of the trilogy. Morale reportedly plummeted at the company, as other projects suffered cancellations.
Will Cal Kestis really return in 2026?
During the podcast, Gettys hinted at drama surrounding those events but didn’t elaborate. Another concern is how long it takes to produce modern cinematic AAA games. A Jedi 3 arrival would buck that trend, but past Star Wars games in the series also didn’t keep fans waiting long.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order took four years or less to make, shipping in 2019 after its 2018 E3 showcase. Jedi Survivor was on a relatively fast track, releasing a year following its 2022 Star Wars Celebration feature. That said, an announcement in May 2026 and a release date in the same year could be overly optimistic.
After a rocky technical launch for its predecessors, fans may have some trepidation about rushing Jedi 3. Jedi Survivor boasted impressive sales, but performance issues still plague some players.
Adam Corsetti - Tech Writer - 942 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I'm anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.
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