Gen’dai and the Story of their Survival in Star Wars Jedi
Finally, the details have been released by Respawn Entertainment about the extraterrestrial beings featured in the trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the continuation of the tale about Cal Kestis, the Jedi Padawan who escaped the extermination of the Jedi that was depicted in Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.
As the first preview of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor played during the 2022 Game Awards, die-hard Star Wars devotees started speculating about the mysterious, grey-skinned alien antagonist confronting Cal. Various theories suggested it was Durge from the 2003 Genndy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars. Nevertheless, it appeared the enthusiasts were almost correct, but not entirely.
IGN had the opportunity to speak with both Respawn Cinematic Director Dori Arazi and Lead Writer Danny Homan, who clarified that the alien in the trailer is not Durge, but a member of the same species by the name of Rayvis. This species, called the Gen’dai, is an obscure species in the Star Wars canon, known for their near immortality, as Obi-Wan Kenobi found out in the Clone Wars series. The Gen’dai have bodies made up of a cluster of tentacles, which can regenerate in the face of injuries that would be lethal to other species. The orange suit of armor that Rayvis wears is not for protection, but instead to keep his body from flopping around like a bunch of noodles.
After their home planet was wiped out, the Gen’dai became a nomadic species. Their natural-born bounty-hunting abilities, combined with their regenerative qualities and warrior mentality, allowed them to live long lives, giving them a unique view on the rise and fall of empires that few other species in Star Wars lore have. That insight is seen in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, where the protagonist Cal, a Jedi who witnessed the Republic’s downfall and seeks to take down the totalitarian Empire that replaced it, shares a similar story with Rayvis, another character in the game who experienced the loss of his tribe and the difficult process of finding his place in the galaxy.
Cal has recently experienced the fall of the Republic and the death of his Jedi peers and is still trying to figure out his role in their history. In contrast, Rayvis has the confidence that comes with having lived for thousands of years and has had time to determine his place in the ups and downs of multiple empires. His survival skills and longevity make Rayvis an ideal reflection of Cal’s journey of survival, making him an apt choice for a game focusing on that very theme.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be available to play on April 28 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.