Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Explains Its New Villain

Respawn Entertainment is gearing up for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and now, the devs are showing off a dangerous enemy giving Cal a run for his money.

16th Feb 2023 16:35

Lucasfilm | Respawn Entertainment

jedi-survivor-new-villain.jpg

There have been plenty of dangerous threats to the galaxy far, far away. From Emperor Palpatine to Jabba the Hutt, Darth Vader to the theory that Jar Jar Binks is secretly a Sith Lord. Now, we're ready to meet a new one in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

In the aftermath of Order 66 almost snuffing out Jedi life across the cosmos, the big villains of 2019's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order were the Imperial Inquisitors (with a last-minute cameo from You Know Who). Cal Kestis is being hunted again in Survivor, but who's on his tail this time?

Who Are The Gen'Dai In Jedi: Survivor?

Rayvis Gen'dai Jedi: Survivor

IGN has unveiled the new villains in Jedi: Survivor, and if you watched the animated Clone Wars series from 2003 (not its 2008 sequel), you might recognise this new threat.

During the Game Awards reveal trailer, fans noticed a mysterious alien in a large suit of armour around the 44-second mark. This smirking assailant joked that the Jedi are all supposed to be dead, and with a closeup, many theorised it was a villainous Gen'Dai.

For those who don't know, the Gen'Dai are an ancient race in Star Wars canon, who are formless and have to wear massive suits of armour to keep their shape. The most famous is a bounty hunter called Durge, and while we're told that isn't Durge in the Survivor trailer, get ready to learn more about the Gen'Dai.

Which Gen'Dai Is In The Jedi: Survivor Trailer?

Gen'dai Concept Art Jedi Survivor

Respawn Cinematic Director Dori Arazi and Lead Writer Danny Homan explained the one who mocks Cal is known as Rayvis, a Gen'Dai who will have an important part to play.

"There's something really charming about the juxtaposition between how Cal as a Jedi takes his struggle with his history and the history of his people, or let's say his kind, versus how Rayvis takes his history versus his kind," says Arazi.

"Cal has struggles and questions, and he tries to find his place while Rayvis comes in very confident with who he is and what he is and why he's doing what he's doing. And that conflict is very sparky. It allows both of them to have a lot of reflection on who they are and where they're at and what they're doing."

Durge Star Wars Gen'Dai

The Gen'Dai are a nomadic race, and as they can live for thousands of years, they've seen a lot. Namely, the Republic turn into the Empire. "We're all heroes of our own story and Rayvis is the hero of his own story. He doesn't perceive himself as a bad guy," added Arazi. "He's a chivalrous knight in his world."

Homan concluded: "Which is something you can respect in a time period where people are so uncertain of the next day, let alone the next year, he kind of walks through it confidently and proud. And there's just something really kind of mystical about that."

The odds are stacked against Cal in Jedi: Survivor, and if running away from Inquisitors wasn't enough, he has the Gen'Dai, the mysterious Pau'an senator, and whoever is in the bacta tank to contend with.

Tom Chapman

About The Author

Tom Chapman

Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.

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