As we expected, Rovio and Lucasfilm announced today Angry Birds Star Wars, an upcoming game that will combine the classic Angry Birds and Angry Birds Space with "characters, stories, and settings" of Star Wars.
"From the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Death Star – the game and merchandise will feature the Angry Birds characters starring as the iconic heroes of the beloved Saga," Rovio explained in a statement today.
“This is the best Angry Birds game we’ve ever done. It’s the best parts of Angry Birds with all new cutting-edge gameplay set in in a galaxy far, far away,” said Peter Vesterbacka, CMO of Rovio. “As a big Star Wars fan myself, I’m really excited about this new universe. The Force is definitely strong with this one.”
The Angry Birds Star Wars game is set to release worldwide on November 8, just shortly after the October 28 unveiling of a massive retail launch featuring merchandise ranging from Halloween costumes and apparel to action figures and collectible plush toys.
“Both Star Wars and Angry Birds share the instant and irresistible appeal of hands-on fun,” said Colum Slevin, Vice President, Head of Studio Operations for Lucasfilm Ltd. “People seem to instinctively know what to do when handed a lightsaber or a bird in a slingshot, so this is a natural combination.”
Speaking to USA Today, Lucasfilm's Paul Southern explained that a number of famous characters will be represented.
"They are not Angry Birds dressed up as Star Wars characters, they are characters in their own right," Southern explained. "For example, Red Bird will be transformed into Luke Skywalker as an X-Wing pilot in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. They've got personalities which are kind of similar."
"You will see a pig-esque Vader and pig-esque stormtroopers," Southern added.
Other confirmed characters include Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader. Additional new videos, characters, and content will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Angry Birds Star Wars will release on November 8 for iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, Mac, PC, Windows Phone, and Windows 8.
