The upcoming Star Wars action-adventure game, Star Wars Eclipse, received its first full trailer at the Game Awards 2021, and it may have revealed the presence of the Trade Federation. The trailer itself provides a good look at the High Republic era of Star Wars history, and some of the alien races that will play a role in the unfolding events. One of these groups seen in the trailer, called Neimoidians, feature prominently. This brief but significant inclusion might be alluding to the presence of the Trade Federation, who played a pivotal role in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and during the Clone Wars as a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
While the cinematic trailer is light on specific details, it is very clear about where Star Wars Eclipse falls on the saga’s timeline. The game will take place during the High Republic, an era that commenced hundreds of years before the Skywalker Saga and ended decades prior to The Phantom Menace. In this age of Star Wars, the Galactic Republic and the Jedi were at the height of their powers, with the Sith having been extinct for hundreds of years, and the Outer Rim still being explored.
The Trade Federation itself was an intergalactic trading and political power in the Star Wars galaxy. Neimoidians were known to be cutthroat tradespeople, and spearheaded the Trade Federation with ruthless precision. By instigating the Invasion of Naboo, Nute Gunray, a Viceroy of the Trade Federation, would ultimately be responsible for Senator Palpatine’s election to the Senate, giving the Sith political power in the process. Their front-and-center presence in the trailer for Star Wars Eclipse could be a nod to the Trade Federation’s rise to power in the latter years of the High Republic, before Nute Gunray’s time as Viceroy.
Star Wars Eclipse Shows Multiple Trade Federation Vessels
However, a single Neimoidian does not a Trade Federation make. Another pivotal scene in the announcement trailer shown at the 2021 Game Awards takes place outside a Trade Federation ship, further supporting a Federation-heavy narrative. Named the Lucrehulk-class battleship, these powerful spaceships made their first appearance in The Phantom Menace, and were the Neimoidian’s go-to defense weapon. Like many other images from the game’s trailer, the presence of Trade Federation ships reveals more details about Star Wars Eclipse‘s High Republic.
Though Star Wars Eclipse is currently in development, it is not the only new upcoming Star Wars gaming adventure. Ubisoft announced its own open world Star Wars game earlier in 2021, and Zynga will release Stars Wars: Hunters some time next year. While many fans eagerly anticipate the arrival of Star Wars Eclipse, there will still be plenty of blasters and lightsabers to go around.
