As a sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor made a superb change with its story to not only connect it to its predecessor, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but also make it fit exceptionally well in the greater narrative of the Star Wars franchise, and laid the groundwork for a sequel to Jedi: Survivor in the future. Sometimes it can be hard for a sequel's story to flow well while still being interesting enough to stand up to previous entries in the series. For any form of media trying to enter the Star Wars universe, this is made more difficult by trying to fit into the already established lore and canon without disrupting anything.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor]
Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a strong and compelling character in both this newest edition to the series and its original, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. A lot has changed in his life in the events of both games but also during the gap of time in between when the two titles take place. This jump in time is a very clever story mechanic for this narrative, not only in allowing Cal and others to grow and mature but for events in Star Wars to progress and move forward with the ultimate storyline of the entire franchise as a whole.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Brilliantly Jumped 5 Years Into The Future
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes place five years after the ending scenes of Fallen Order. This time skip is a good duration as it is not a very long time, but it's long enough for Cal to have grown and developed his skills as a Jedi and for things in the Star Wars universe to progress some, particularly within the Empire's plans. There are a lot of subtle changes between Fallen Order and Survivor that helped create a strong foundation for the latter's narrative and the characters within the game.
There is a novel, Battle Scars, that takes place between Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor and shows a slice of what happened to the crew of the Mantis during those years. The crew struggles with different ideas of what they want to do and eventually separates to go their own ways. They each have grown, matured, and changed as this life takes its toll on them all, and Cal is separated from his Mantis crew at the beginning of Jedi: Survivor, although they reunite in the game.
Cal Is A Full Jedi, No Longer A Padawan In Jedi: Survivor
For quite a bit of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal remains a Padawan and is still coming to learn and understand more of his Jedi powers. Though he did become a Jedi Knight during the course of the game, the time skip between Fallen Order and Survivor is clearly a time of growth for Cal. By the time Jedi: Survivor takes place, he has grown more confident in his abilities and is ready to learn all the new Force Powers that he discovers throughout this new adventure.
The Crew Of The Mantis Is More Mature In Jedi: Survivor
There are many characters who return to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor after having played important roles in Fallen Order. Particularly in the events that transpired in the book Battle Scars, there was a lot that happened in the space between the two games besides the emotional toll that the events from the first game, and even before that time, took on the characters. The further development of these personalities has made them more interesting for Jedi: Survivor and adds to the game's immersion.
The Star Wars Galaxy Timeline Marches On
Looking at the grander scheme of the Star Wars narrative, both Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor take place around important events in the Star Wars timeline. Fallen Order is roughly five years after Revenge of the Sith and Jedi: Survivor is happening at the same time that Princess Leia is kidnapped and the events of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television show transpire. There is a lot happening in the universe, and thanks to its time skip, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is able to touch on the events that have been unfolding in a parallel fashion while being somewhat removed from the major characters of the movies.
A Sequel Could Move To Another Time In Star Wars Lore
If developers do create the intended sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and once again jump five more years into the future, this would then place the new game during the timeframe of the events of Star Wars: Andor television series. Cassian Andor and Cal Kestis could easily cross paths with their goals to make a difference in the galaxy.
One Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Character Needs Time To Grow Before The Next Game
Another benefit to a further time jump for any sequel of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is that one particular character from the end of the game needs some time to grow. As Cal takes Kata under his wing, this ending storyline sets up a sequel nicely. Kata will need time to grow up and mature before her story can truly emerge, particularly as she learns to cope with the loss of both of her parents and trust this new family who has taken her in.
Cal's role as a possible mentor to Kata in a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor seems to be a logical next step for the series, and making another five-year-jump would not only line it up with more of the Star Wars timeline events but also gives Kata some room to grow up some. Just as the characters who made up the original Star Wars: Fallen Order needed some time to evolve and mature before Survivor, another leap into the future will give everyone another chance to develop more. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor does not currently have a sequel announced, although it was intended to be a three-part trilogy.