Anakin Skywalker’s Official Star Wars Return Sets Up Something Even Better

Fans of Star Wars and turn-based tactics games are in for a rare treat at the end of the summer when Star Wars Zero Company is released. It’s incredibly exciting to see that there will be many Star Wars planets players can travel to, for instance, and its gameplay appears to be deeply immersive and tension-filled, as players’ Operators can be eliminated permanently after suffering three Injuries (and later honored in the Memorial).

Star Wars Zero Company’s Summer Game Fest 2026 trailer revealed new gameplay, story details, and an official release date, which had been leaked earlier. However, the biggest water-cooler conversation starter from this new trailer was the reveal that Anakin Skywalker will make an appearance in-game. Considering the fact that Star Wars Zero Company takes place in the “twilight of the Clone Wars,” it’ll be interesting to see who else receives a cameo.

Star Wars Zero Company’s Anakin Skywalker May Not Be Its Only Jedi Cameo

star wars zero company anakin skywalker — Anakin Skywalker in *Star Wars Zero Company*.

Anakin’s role in Star Wars Zero Company suggests he’ll only ever be an NPC, and not an Operator that players can maneuver on the battlefield themselves. According to the official Star Wars website:

“Jedi General Anakin Skywalker is also on a crucial mission, and his path briefly crosses with the Zero Company crew. Their intel and tactical expertise is just what he needs to get the job done.”

While a cameo like this could arguably be gratuitous, it fully makes sense that players might encounter Anakin or any other Jedi Generals during the Clone Wars era, especially if Star Wars Zero Company’s Hawks knew a handful of them during his tenure as a captain in the Grand Army of the Republic.

Indeed, there’s a high likelihood that Anakin entrusts Zero Company with whatever they’re tasked to do because he and Hawks know one another. The Tognath Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea Vokoss’ reaction to seeing Anakin should also be fascinating (assuming he doesn’t know her and that players bring her along as an Operative for this specific encounter).

Of course, Tel-Rea isn’t the only Jedi Padawan players may come across, either. He probably wouldn’t be available as a playable Operator, but seeing Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’s Cal Kestis, much less his Jedi Master Jaro Tapal, would be a phenomenal way for the character to finally cross that chasm and establish himself in canon Star Wars lore beyond Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi games.

Star Wars has dedicated a massively disproportionate amount of content to chronicling Anakin’s whole life—fans of the character will obviously be pleased to see him in this era again, due to how popular the animated Clone Wars TV show is, but the appearance of a character like Cal would be doubly astonishing.

Star Wars Zero Company’s Clone Wars Era Is Teeming With Possibilities

star wars zero company tactics gameplay — Tactics gameplay in *Star Wars Zero Company*.

If Cal did appear in Star Wars Zero Company’s story, he’d still be a child. He’s certainly a capable child when we see him in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Force ability flashbacks, though, and it’d be neat to see Cal’s lore expanded on from when he was training. Moreover, it’s possible that we could see Trilla Suduri before she becomes the Inquisitors’ Second Sister, or Cere Junda while she was a Jedi Master.

Anakin is who is referred to when the Star Wars website mentions that we’ll “encounter a familiar face or two from this era,” but we’re bound to see more iconic Clone Wars-era characters. Star Wars loves indulging in cameos regardless of their significance or value to the narrative; however, Star Wars Zero Company is an opportunity for Clone Wars-era cameos to have meaning and explore characters who are deserving of a cameo or supporting role.

Star Wars Zero Company is scheduled to be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on August 27, 2026.