Star Wars: Attack Squadrons canceled

Disney has canceled Star Wars: Attack Squadrons, the free-to-play space combat game. In closed beta since January 2014, Attack Squadrons was an online game where players could customize "iconic ships" like X-Wings and TIE fighters and engage in dogfights that support up to 16 players.

"After much consideration, we have decided to cease development so that we can focus on other Star Wars game experiences," Disney wrote on Facebook after thanking fans who participated in the closed beta. "We truly appreciate the time you spent engaging in the beta."

Attack Squadron was being developed by Area 52 Games separately of the ten-year licensing deal between EA and Disney. Under the agreement announced in May 2013, EA was granted exclusive development rights to Star Wars titles inteded for a "core gaming audience." So far, only Star Wars: Battlefront has been confirmed to be in development by the EA-owned DICE (developer of Battlefield 4), though it's believed that Visceral Games and BioWare could also be working on Star Wars games.