Amy Hennig has left a notable impact on the gaming industry, acknowledged for her work on several acclaimed games. Chief among her accolades is the notable Uncharted series, which she developed during her tenure at the studio. While at Visceral Games, Hennig was engaged in creating Project Ragtag, a game intended to reside within the Star Wars universe. Regrettably, with the closing of Visceral Games, fans were left without the opportunity to witness the completion of this exciting project.
In a previous discussion, Hennig elaborated on her vision for a game inspired by the Star Wars narrative, finding parallels with Uncharted. Nevertheless, she opted for a distinctive direction that might have sparked discussions among fans.
Hennig made the choice to exclude certain antagonists from her Star Wars title. During an interview with a gaming publication in 2019, she reflected on her experiences at Visceral Games while working on Project Ragtag. Drawing parallels between the Star Wars universe and the Uncharted series, she acknowledged the similarities but noted her resolve to approach one particular aspect differently. She expressed her realization that while crafting a Star Wars story would inherently resemble Uncharted due to the shared genre, her strategy involved omitting the traditional focus on villains, a model she had adhered to in Uncharted. Contrary to the films where the protagonist's perspective is largely maintained, she envisioned a narrative that would shift between multiple characters, including villains.
This decision was sure to ignite discussions within the Star Wars fanbase; however, it does not imply that the game would have lacked potential for success. The achievements of the Uncharted series stand testament to Hennig's expertise in game development.
In 2017, the sudden closure of Visceral Games marked the end of Project Ragtag's trajectory. As a branch of Electronic Arts, Visceral's closure was announced with EA indicating a reboot of the game's development under EA Vancouver, shifting its direction towards an open-world experience. Ultimately, these plans were scrapped.
Originally envisioned as a narrative-driven game centered around a grand heist occurring post-Star Wars IV: A New Hope, EA ultimately stated the need to alter the design in order to provide an enjoyable and long-lasting experience for players. Hennig's interpretation of a Star Wars adventure promised to be thrilling, and one can only wish that in the years ahead, a significant gaming company may resurrect this intriguing project alongside her. Do you believe her vision for a Star Wars game would have thrived? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!