View source for Star Wars Galaxies

{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{about|the MMORPG|the fictional setting|Star Wars#Setting|other uses|Star Wars Galaxy (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Star Wars Galaxies
| image = Star Wars Galaxies Box Art.jpg
| alt = 
| developer = [[Sony Online Entertainment]]
| publisher = [[LucasArts]]
| director = [[Raph Koster]]
| producer = John Donham
| designer = Cinco Barnes
| programmer = Jeff Grills
| artist = Jake Rodgers
| composer = Anna Karney
| series = ''[[Star Wars video games|Star Wars]]''
| engine = 
| platforms = [[Windows]]
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|June 26, 2003|EU|November 7, 2003|JP|December 23, 2004|AUS|2006}}
| genre = [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|Massively multiplayer online role-playing]]
| modes = [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Star Wars Galaxies''''' was a ''[[Star Wars]]''-themed [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]] (MMORPG) for [[Microsoft Windows]], developed by [[Sony Online Entertainment]] (SOE) and published by [[LucasArts]].<ref name="SWGannouced">{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20000316.html |title=LucasArts, Verant, And Sony Online Entertainment Join Forces In Massively Multiplayer Online Star Wars Game |access-date=23 March 2007 |date=16 March 2000 |publisher=[[LucasArts]] |archive-date=22 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322002225/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20000316.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The game was released in stores on June 26, 2003,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-05 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: A Brief History |url=https://mmofolklorist.com/2023/01/05/star-wars-galaxies-a-brief-history/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=MMO Folklorist |language=en}}</ref> and spawned several expansions and updates through 2005.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vitka |first=William |date=11 February 2009 |title=Mailbag: Star Wars Galaxies |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mailbag-star-wars-galaxies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002081742/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/16/tech/gamecore/main1133791.shtml |archive-date=2 October 2013 |access-date=28 November 2012 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

The servers shut down on December 15, 2011<ref>{{cite news |url=http://telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8601159/Star-Wars-Galaxies-MMORPG-to-close-this-year.html |title=Star Wars Galaxies MMORPG to close this year' |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=5 July 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701114243/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8601159/Star-Wars-Galaxies-MMORPG-to-close-this-year.html |url-status=live }}</ref> due to contract expiration.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-06-27 |title=Online game Star Wars Galaxies set to close |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-13925263 |access-date=2023-10-31}}</ref> There are several private [[emulator]] projects in various stages of development that intend to allow users to experience ''Galaxies'' in different incarnations of the game's existence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-13 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Is Dead, But These People Are Keeping It Alive |url=https://kotaku.com/star-wars-galaxies-is-dead-but-these-people-are-keepin-1786587786 |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Steven |last=Messner |date=2015-12-30 |title=How Players Revived Star Wars Galaxies And EverQuest |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/star-wars-galaxy-mmo-preservation |access-date=2023-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shirey |first=J. Brodie |date=2022-09-14 |title=Star Wars Galaxies' Impressive Fan Restoration Project Adds Mustafar |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-galaxies-restoration-mustafar-update-missions-aliens/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Sean |date=2022-01-31 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Gets Resurrected After More Than A Decade |url=https://www.thegamer.com/star-wars-galaxies-restoration-3/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
{{overly detailed|date=August 2022}}

=== Races and Character Creation ===
The ten species that were available to players included: [[Human (Star Wars)|Human]], [[Twi'lek]], [[Zabrak (Star Wars)|Zabrak]], [[Wookiee]], [[Trandoshan]], [[Rodian]], [[Mon Calamari (fictional race)|Mon Calamari]], [[Bothan]], [[Sullustan]] and [[Ithorian]].

Players could hire Entertainers to change their appearance in-game, with even more options than those available at creation. Many visual aspects of a character were changeable after character creation except species and gender.

=== In-Game Professions ===
Before the New Game Enhancements (commonly referred to as the "NGE"), players had access to 34 professions, with six basic professions: Artisan, Brawler, Entertainer, Marksman, Medic, and Scout. There were a total of 24 <!-- Yes, 24, not 32. There were 32 professions total, but only 24 ADVANCED professions. --> advanced professions.

Each profession had advanced tier options, including hybrids that combined traits of two professions. Each profession consisted of a tree-like structure of skills, with a single Novice level, four independent branches with four levels, and a Master level which required completion of all four branches. Characters purchased these skills with experience points gained through a related activity.  After the NGE, the developers added nine new professions: Jedi, Bounty Hunter, Smuggler, Commando, Spy, Officer, Medic, Entertainer, and Trader. Progress in these professions was divided into three separate experience source groups: combat, crafting, and entertaining. In addition to these professions, a character could also pursue three optional side professions: Pilot, Chronicler, and Politician.

Players could specialize in three different areas of their primary professions by selecting "expertise" options, including Beast Mastery (BM). The Trader profession shared not only BM expertise but also general expertise. All professions could specialize through expertise and items. The only role requiring a single profession was healer.

=== Spacecraft ===
The ''Jump to Lightspeed'' expansion made individual ships attainable by players for the first time. This allowed players to acquire and pilot ships of various sizes. Ships ranged in size from fighter crafts to gunships with up to three decks. This gave players the option between space-based or planet-based gameplay.

=== Combat ===
Each character and creature possessed three "pools" (called Health, Action, and Mind; or "HAM") that represented their physical and mental reserves. When any one of those pools was fully depleted, the character would faint. Combat required the player to carefully manage his or her actions to avoid depleting a pool.

With the NGE, ground combat was changed to [[Real-time strategy|real-time]] and similar to a [[first-person shooter]]. The player would aim a targeting reticule and left-click the mouse to fire. Auto-aim and auto-fire features were available, but players who eschewed those options were rewarded with an increased chance of maximum damage. As characters' levels increased, they gained access to additional combat abilities called "specials" which were activated by the right mouse button or by accessing the ability on a toolbar. In addition to providing high-damage attacks, specials were also used to heal, buff, [[debuff]], and crowd control enemies. Players gained the ability to use more powerful weapons as they advanced in level. Players also earned "Expertise Points" as they leveled up, which were used to advance their professions. The player could allot 45 points to various abilities and attributes, from weapons specialties to healing and armor proficiency. Once a character reached level 90, they would gain access to collaborative "Heroic" missions. The five heroic missions were: Tusken Invasion, IG88, Axkva Min, Imperial Star Destroyer, and Exar Kun.

=== In-Game Economy, Infrastructure, and Political Structure ===
Characters could erect, own, and decorate a variety of communal, personal, and governmental buildings. These buildings, when grouped, could be organized into cities. Players held elections via ballot box for Mayor. Elected mayors granted city members permission to place structures within the city. Elections were held every three weeks. If another player wished to run for mayor, they would add their name to the ballot box to run against the incumbent. As cities grew in population, they became eligible to add services and facilities such as vehicle repair garages, shuttle ports, cloning facilities, hospitals, cantinas, and garden displays. They could show up on planet maps alongside canonical cities such as [[List of Star Wars cities#Theed|Theed]] and [[Mos Eisley]].

The gameplay design aimed towards realistic social institutions like a dynamic [[virtual economy]] and other real-life social phenomena like a complicated [[division of labor]]. In this virtual economy, players were responsible for creating many in-game items including [[Blaster (star wars)|blasters]], [[starship]]s, clothing, armor, food, housing, furniture and even a wide variety of [[droid (Star Wars)|droid]]s. According to ''Star Wars Galaxies and the Division of Labor'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swg.mrap.info/ |title=Star Wars Galaxies and the Division of Labor |publisher=Swg.mrap.info |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015223331/http://www.swg.mrap.info/ |archive-date=15 October 2011 }}</ref> the division of labor in ''Star Wars Galaxies'' produced in-game results similar to those in real life.

==Setting==
The game events were set following the destruction of the [[Death Star]] in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Episode IV: A New Hope]]'', but before the beginning of ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]''.

The game launched with 10 planets: [[Tatooine]], [[Naboo]], [[Corellia]], Talus, [[Rori (Star Wars)|Rori]], [[Dantooine]], Lok, [[Yavin 4]], the [[forest moon of Endor|Forest Moon of Endor]], and [[Dathomir]]. The paid expansions added [[Wookiee|Kashyyyk]] and [[Mustafar]].<ref>''[http://holocron.net.br/star-wars Star Wars - Star Wars News about the saga] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420163025/http://holocron.net.br/star-wars/ |date=April 20, 2016 }}''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/673/673548p2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207012050/http://pc.ign.com/articles/673/673548p2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2006 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan |website=IGN |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref> There were 12 space zones, encompassing approximately 3400 [[cubic kilometer]]s of navigable space. Nine space zones were associated with one or more of the playable planets, but [[Kessel (Star Wars)|Kessel]], [[Ord Mantell]], and Deep Space were solely used for space gameplay and player-versus-player combat. The planet [[Hoth]] was added in November 2008, but could only be explored during the events of the Battle of Echo Base.

=== Notable Characters and Locations ===
Players could meet many characters from the main and [[Star Wars in other media|expanded]] universe of ''Star Wars''.

The main characters include: [[Luke Skywalker]], [[Han Solo]], [[Princess Leia|Princess Leia Organa]], [[Darth Vader]], [[Chewbacca]], [[Palpatine|Emperor Palpatine]], [[Admiral Ackbar]], [[Jan Dodonna]], [[Boba Fett]], [[Jabba the Hutt|Jabba]], [[Sio Bibble|Borvo the Hutt]], [[Bib Fortuna]], [[Salacious Crumb]], [[Admiral Ozzel|General Otto]], [[Captain Panaka]] (appears as Colonel Panaka), [[Max Rebo]], [[Wedge Antilles]], [[List of Star Wars characters|Gavyn Sykes]], [[Watto]], [[Boss Nass]], [[Grand Inquisitor (Star Wars)|Grand Inquisitor]] Ja'ce Yiaso, the "reincarnation" of [[General Grievous]] as NK-Necrosis, Taga Olak, Jefa Bowa, and the Force ghost of [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]].

Other characters and locations that players could visit within the game include: [[R2-D2]], [[C-3PO]], their [[escape pod]] on [[Tatooine]], the [[Naboo]] Royal Palace, the abandoned [[Rebel Alliance|Rebel]] bases on [[Dantooine]] and [[Yavin 4]], [[Ewok]]s, and [[Rancor]]s.

==Production==
The game was announced in 2000, when [[LucasArts Entertainment]] began a partnership with [[EverQuest]] creators [[Verant Interactive|Verant Interactive Inc.]] and Sony Online Entertainment to create a massively multiplayer ''Star Wars'' online role-playing game.<ref name="SWGannouced" /><ref name="IGNannouce">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/076/076665p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020311175218/http://pc.ign.com/articles/076/076665p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2002 |title= Star Wars Online Announced: Three heavy hitters announce what could be one of the biggest games of all times. |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=16 March 2000 |website=IGN }}</ref> The announcement included an expected release date of 2001 and that the game would take place during the [[original trilogy (Star Wars)|original trilogy era]].

On May 17, 2001, before the game went into public [[beta testing]], the first expansion's development was announced.<ref name="SWGspaceannouced">{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20010517.html |title=LucasArts Announces Space-Based Expansion For Star Wars Galaxies Online Game Series |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=17 May 2001 |publisher=[[LucasArts]] |archive-date=23 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723001324/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20010517.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The release date of the base game was delayed to the second half of 2002. The creators announced a staggered released schedule for the space-based gameplay<ref name="IGNspaceannouced">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/094/094772p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020311184549/http://pc.ign.com/articles/094/094772p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2002 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Expansion Announced |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=17 May 2001 |website=IGN }}</ref> A new official website was also released on the same day. It included screenshots, movies, an updated frequently-asked questions section, concept art, development team member's profiles, features about the game, and a forum.<ref name="IGNsite">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/094/094771p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021053314/http://pc.ign.com/articles/094/094771p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2002 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Site Goes Live: A new website for the Star Wars strategy game is up and running. |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=17 May 2001 |website=IGN }}</ref> The site reached 100,001 users by December 2001.<ref name="SWGusers">{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20011217.html |title=Star Wars Galaxies Official Web Site Surpasses 100,000 Registered Users |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=17 December 2001 |publisher=[[LucasArts]] |archive-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912064121/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20011217.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout the next year, new content would be posted on the website. This content included information on species and locations, new images and movies of game elements, and 360-degree [[QuickTime VR]] panoramas of different in-game locations.

The closed beta test began in July 2002.<ref name="IGNbeta">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/358/358530p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020804033931/http://pc.ign.com/articles/358/358530p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2002 |title=Galaxies Beta |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=3 May 2002 |website=IGN }}</ref> SOE shared information about the game on the website as the beta progressed.<ref name="IGNskill">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/380/380446p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021219110245/http://pc.ign.com/articles/380/380446p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2002 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Site Update |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=16 December 2002 |website=IGN }}</ref> LucasArts also stated in 2002 that both the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]<ref name="IGNxbox">{{cite web |url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/360/360045p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020610022609/http://xbox.ign.com/articles/360/360045p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2002 |title=Galaxies on Xbox |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=20 May 2002 |website=IGN }}</ref> and [[PlayStation 2]]<ref name="IGNps2">{{cite web |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/360/360025p1.html |title=Star Wars Galaxies On PS2 |access-date=24 March 2007 |date=20 May 2002 |website=IGN |archive-date=25 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825210646/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/360/360025p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> would get a version of the game; however, both versions were cancelled.

The game was intended to be released on April 15, 2003.<ref name="SWGreleasedate">{{cite web |date=20 December 2002 |title=LucasArts Confirms April 15, 2003, Release For Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20021220.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912035458/http://www.lucasarts.com/company/release/news20021220.html |archive-date=12 September 2007 |access-date=24 March 2007 |publisher=[[LucasArts]]}}</ref><ref name="IGNreleasedate">{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=20 December 2002 |title=Star Wars Galaxies Release Date! |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/380/380958p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021224105706/http://pc.ign.com/articles/380/380958p1.html |archive-date=24 December 2002 |access-date=24 March 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> On December 20, 2002, the creators announced that the base game of ''Galaxies'' would be called '''''An Empire Divided''''', and that the game's [[online community]] had grown to over 400,000 users since its inception in November 2000. At the time, this represented one of the largest ever fan communities amassed for any game prior to retail availability.<ref name="SWGreleasedate" />

==Release and continued development==
The base game, titled ''Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided'', was released in North America on June 26, 2003, and in Europe on November 7, 2003. A localized version for the Japanese market was published by [[Electronic Arts|EA Japan]] and released on December 23, 2004. Japanese acceptance of the game was low, and in November 2005 the servers were shut down and existing accounts migrated to US servers.

===Server closures===
On September 16, 2009, SOE informed all current and past account holders of the forthcoming closure of 12 servers (galaxies): Corbantis, Europe-Infinity, Intrepid, Kauri, Kettemoor, Lowca, Naritus, Scylla, Tarquinas, Tempest, Valcyn and Wanderhome. Character creation on these servers was disabled on September 15, 2009, with the final closure of the servers on October 15, 2009. Players with characters on the affected servers were offered free character transfer to one of the 13 remaining servers.

===Hacking incident===
{{main|2011 PlayStation Network outage}}
On May 3, 2011, SOE issued a press release stating that all SOE accounts had been temporarily isolated from the Internet due to massive, widespread security infiltrations of various games, servers, and databases. Security teams (and the [[FBI]]) were called. Initial reports indicated that personal data and of 20-30 million customers outside of the United States from 2007 had potentially been compromised.<ref name="SOESecUpdate">{{cite web |url=http://www.soe.com/securityupdate/ |title=Customer Service Notification |publisher=SOE |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125082534/http://www.soe.com/securityupdate/ |archive-date=25 November 2012 }}</ref> On May 14, 2011, SOE declared data was safe and reopened all servers. SOE offered a free 30-day membership for established members, an in-game decoration, and a 1:1 ratio of days lost.

===Closure===
On June 24, 2011, SOE and LucasArts announced that they had mutually agreed to shut down ''Galaxies'' on December 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STAR WARS GALAXIES|url=http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/playerinfo/|publisher=Sony Online Entertainment|access-date=24 June 2011|date=24 June 2011|quote=We write to you today to inform you that on December 15, 2011, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and LucasArts will end all services (MMO and Trading Card Game) for Star Wars Galaxies (SWG).|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627210042/http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/playerinfo/|archive-date=27 June 2011}}</ref> According to the SOE announcement, "If you are an active subscriber in good standing as of September 15, 2011, then you can play for free for the final months. Players wishing to play through the end of the game and participate in the galaxy-ending event planned for the last week of live service in December will need to re-activate or join the game on or before September 15. No new or reactivated accounts will be accepted after September 15, 2011."<ref>{{cite web|title=IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STAR WARS GALAXIES - STAR WARS GALAXIES SERVICE WILL END ON DECEMBER 15|url=http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/playerinfo|work=Star Wars Galaxies|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124133655/http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/playerinfo/|archive-date=24 November 2011}}</ref>

On December 15, 2011, at 9:01 PM Pacific time, the servers of ''Star Wars Galaxies'' shut down, disconnecting those still playing and preventing entry into the game. The final five hours were broadcast in a [[Streaming media|live stream]] by [[Giant Bomb]], with [[Kotaku]] reporting events as they happened. The final in-game events included a final player versus player finale between the Galactic Empire and The Rebels, as well as an appearance from the [[Force Ghost]] of [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] as depicted in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' and ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5868648/goodbye-star-wars-galaxies |title=Goodbye, Star Wars Galaxies |website=Kotaku |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107122837/http://kotaku.com/5868648/goodbye-star-wars-galaxies |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/there-is-another-the-end-of-star-wars-galaxies-part-01/17-5439/ |title=There Is Another: The End Of Star Wars Galaxies - Part 01 |publisher=[[Giant Bomb]] |date=20 December 2011 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107150559/http://www.giantbomb.com/there-is-another-the-end-of-star-wars-galaxies-part-01/17-5439/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception and subscriptions==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 75%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/468222-star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided/index.html |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided for PC |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209014048/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/468222-star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| MC = 71/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727021746/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

In the [[United States]], ''Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided'' had sold 370,000 copies ($16.1 million) by August 2006. It was the country's 43rd best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all ''Star Wars Galaxies''-related games released between January 2000 and August 2006 had reached 720,000 units in the United States.<ref name=edgesales>{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century| author=''Edge'' Staff | date=25 August 2006 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reviews for the initial launch of the game were mostly positive. The game was praised for its graphics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/428/428431p3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030714115745/http://pc.ign.com/articles/428/428431p3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2003 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided Review - IGN |publisher=Pc.ign.com |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/star-wars-galaxies-empire-divided_article_39254.html |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided |publisher=Mania.com |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013161513/http://www.mania.com/star-wars-galaxies-empire-divided_article_39254.html |archive-date=13 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/30053/star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607132944/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/30053/star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided/ |archive-date=7 June 2011 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided |date=7 June 2011 |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref> use of the movie soundtracks, massive world size, character customization, creative creature ecology, complex skill system, player economy interdependencies, and its sandbox approach. Reviewers criticized the overwhelming complexity of the game, combat imbalances of the professions, bugginess, and lack of [[Quest (gaming)|quest]] content.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxies/ |title=Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |website=Metacritic |date=9 July 2003 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=20 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220151157/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxies |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first player to unlock a 'Jedi slot' did so on November 7, 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmorpgdot.com/index.php?hsaction=10053&ID=786 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430183258/http://www.mmorpgdot.com/index.php?hsaction=10053&ID=786 |archive-date=30 April 2008 |date=30 April 2008 |access-date=28 November 2012|title = MMORPGDOTCOM — the Best MMORGP Games}}</ref> four months after the release of the game. Players criticized SOE for the substantial time commitment to unlock a Jedi, penalties for in-game death of a Jedi character (permanent character death after three in-game deaths), and monotonous game play required to acquire the Jedi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/03/index2.shtml |title=GameSpy: PC Games, Reviews, News, Previews, Demos, Mods & Patches |publisher=Archive.gamespy.com |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105181556/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/03/index2.shtml |archive-date=5 January 2012 }}</ref> Developers responded by changing the penalty for death to skill loss in January 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/03/index.shtml |title=GameSpy: PC Games, Reviews, News, Previews, Demos, Mods & Patches |publisher=Archive.gamespy.com |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105170528/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/03/index.shtml |archive-date=5 January 2012 }}</ref> and creating a quest system to unlock the character.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/02/index3.shtml |title=GameSpy: PC Games, Reviews, News, Previews, Demos, Mods & Patches |publisher=Archive.gamespy.com |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105174413/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/march04/galaxies/02/index3.shtml |archive-date=5 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200407/N04.0720.1826.59114.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622203818/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200407/N04.0720.1826.59114.htm |archive-date=22 June 2008 |date=20 Jul 2004 |first=Haden |last=Blackman |subject-link=Haden Blackman |interviewer1=Billy Berghammer |interviewer2=Chris Cook |title=A Disturbance In The Force - Star Wars Galaxies Producer Q & A |language=en |access-date=13 July 2023 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Game Informer]] }}</ref>

Media outlets criticized the changes of the "Combat Upgrade"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/611/611270p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050512024612/http://pc.ign.com/articles/611/611270p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2005 |title=Star Wars Galaxies |publisher=Pc.ign.com |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerseurope.com/articles/751 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213170419/http://www.gamerseurope.com/articles/751 |archive-date=13 February 2008 |date=13 February 2008 |access-date=28 November 2012|title=Gamers Europe » Error }}</ref> while subscription cancellations rose.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/setview/features/loadFeature/714/gameID/6 |title=Star Wars Galaxies (SWG) Editorial: Pursuit of a Mythical Audience |publisher=MMORPG.com |date=13 June 2006 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229130627/http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/setview/features/loadFeature/714/gameID/6 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the New Game Enhancements were implemented in November 2005,<ref name="Escapist_NGE">{{cite web |first=Allen |last=Varney |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_101/560-Blowing-Up-Galaxies |title=Blowing Up Galaxies |work=Escapist Magazine |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218225446/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_101/560-Blowing-Up-Galaxies |url-status=live }}</ref> various media outlets criticized the reduced depth and complexity of the game.<ref>
* {{cite web |last=Chase |first=Matthew |url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3146444 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: AED Review for PC from |website=1UP.com |date=16 December 2005 |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710061338/http://www.1up.com/reviews/star-wars-galaxies-empire-divided |archive-date=10 July 2012 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/675/675442p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216111040/http://pc.ign.com/articles/675/675442p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2005 |title=Star Wars Galaxies: New Game Experience - A fundamental redesign prompts us to take a fresh look at the popular MMOG. |access-date=2 February 2007 |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=13 December 2005 |website=IGN |page=3 }}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/10/arts/10star.html?ex=1291870800&en=1ee435afbd84a355&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |title=For Online Star Wars Game, It's Revenge of the Fans |access-date=2 February 2007 |last=Schiesel |first=Seth |date=10 December 2005 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=9 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109231404/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/10/arts/10star.html?ex=1291870800&en=1ee435afbd84a355&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss |url-status=live }}
* {{cite magazine| url=https://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2005/12/69816 | magazine=Wired | title=Star Wars Fans Flee Net Galaxy | date=13 December 2005}}
</ref> [[John Smedley (video games)|John Smedley]], president of Sony Online Entertainment, defended the decision claiming it necessary to revamp the game in order to reverse the deterioration they were seeing in the subscriber base.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/11/16/1633205.shtml?tid=209&tid=11 |title=John Smedley Answers Your Questions - Slashdot |publisher=Games.slashdot.org |date=16 November 2005 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217141850/http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/11/16/1633205.shtml?tid=209&tid=11 |url-status=live }}</ref> SOE offered refunds on the ''Trials of Obi-Wan'' expansion due to it being released two days before the New Game Enhancement was announced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/star-wars-galaxies-2005/667893p1.html |title=GameSpy: Star Wars Galaxies NGE Q&A: The Readers Respond - Page 1 |publisher=Pc.gamespy.com |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011144133/http://pc.gamespy.com//pc//star-wars-galaxies-2005//667893p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/news/games/1,69816-0.html |title=Star Wars Fans Flee Net Galaxy |access-date=2 February 2007 |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=13 December 2005 |website=Wired.com |archive-date=1 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101070543/http://www.wired.com/news/games/1,69816-0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=9105] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523080300/http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=9105|date=23 May 2007}}</ref>

Subscriber numbers were originally expected to exceed 1,000,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytech.com/World+Of+WarCraft+Expansion+Hits+35+million/article6382.htm |title=World Of WarCraft Expansion Hits 3.5 Million Users |work=DailyTech |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320051644/http://www.dailytech.com/World+Of+WarCraft+Expansion+Hits+35+million/article6382.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2005, SOE reported that they had sold 1,000,000 boxed copies of the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/star-wars-galaxies-sales-top-a-million-units |title=Star Wars Galaxies sales top a million units &#124; GamesIndustry International |publisher=Gamesindustry.biz |date=24 August 2005 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915004351/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/star-wars-galaxies-sales-top-a-million-units |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 2006, unconfirmed reports showed that only 10,363 subscribers were playing on a particular Friday night, but [[John Smedley (developer)|Smedley]] denied that subscriptions had fallen this low.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-galaxies-far-far-away/ | work=CBS News | title=In 'Galaxies' Far, Far Away | date=21 February 2006 | access-date=13 March 2007 | archive-date=13 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713080011/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/21/tech/gamecore/main1335511_page3.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref>

In an online interview with [[Reddit]] in July 2012, [[John Smedley (business executive)|John Smedley]] admitted to "stupid decisions" regarding ''Galaxies''' combat upgrade and new gaming enhancement policies.<ref name="Smedley reddit interview">{{cite web|title=IAmA John Smedley, 22 year game industry veteran, President of Sony Online Entertainment AMAA|publisher=[[reddit]]|date=2012|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/xlir0/iama_john_smedley_22_year_game_industry_veteran/|access-date=2017-09-15|archive-date=2016-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410043719/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/xlir0/iama_john_smedley_22_year_game_industry_veteran/|url-status=live}}</ref> He acknowledged player led [[emulator]] projects seeking to restore a [[free-to-play]] ''Galaxies'' circa April 2005, Publish 14.1, pre-Combat Upgrade, such as the SWGEmu project or Project SWG.<ref name="Smedley reddit interview"/>

==Legacy==
===Expansions===
====''Jump to Lightspeed''====
{{Main|Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed}}

This first expansion, '''''Jump to Lightspeed''''', was released on October 27, 2004. In many ways, this is the spiritual successor to the hit LucasArt's space combat flight simulation game ''[[Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter]]'', as the theme, interface and objectives are quite similar. Reviews for ''Jump to Lightspeed'' praised the new space combat but criticized the base game for its lack of sufficient improvement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxiesjumptolightspeed/ |title=Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |website=Metacritic |date=26 October 2004 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618064912/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxiesjumptolightspeed |url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Rage of the Wookiees''====
The second expansion, '''''Episode III Rage of the Wookiees''''', was announced on March 9, 2005, and released on May 5, 2005. It added the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk and its corresponding space sector. Kashyyyk is different from the previous 10 planets: rather than being 16 square kilometers of openly navigable area, it is divided into a small central area with several instanced "dungeon" areas. Other content added in this expansion included: the ability to add cybernetic limbs to a character, resource mining in space, [[Quest (gaming)|quests]] for two new creature mounts, and three new starships. A substantial portion of the content for this expansion was adapted from the film ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]]'' which was released in the U.S. on May 19, 2005, two weeks after the expansion release.

Customers who purchased the expansion also received a limited-edition Varactyl pet as a player mount. ''Rage of the Wookiees'' expansion also added a few quests, one allowed the player to obtain a pet Bolotaur after going through several tasks. The Bolotaur is similar to the Veractyl but larger and brown.

Reviews for ''Rage of the Wookiees'' lauded the new quest content for current subscribers, but lamented the combat gameplay updates and the continued bugginess of the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxiesepisode3rageofthewookies/ |title=Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees for PC |website=Metacritic |date=5 May 2005 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=21 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021064205/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/starwarsgalaxiesepisode3rageofthewookies |url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Trials of Obi-Wan''====
The third expansion, '''''Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan''''', was announced on August 19, 2005, and released on November 1, 2005. This expansion added the ground planet of [[Mustafar]] to the game. Like the previous expansion, the content is related to ''Revenge of the Sith'', which was released on [[DVD]] the same day the expansion was released. Additional content, including the presence of the droid HK-47, is based on the ''Knights of the Old Republic'' games.

A week after its release, the character development process was revamped through the New Game Enhancements (NGE). This led to a number of players demanding their money back for the expansion. After a week or two of protests, Sony offered refunds to anyone who asked for it, but many players left the game.

{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right|image1=SWG July 2005.jpg|image2=SWG June 2007.jpg|width=200|caption1=''Star Wars Galaxies'' after the Combat Upgrade|caption2=''Star Wars Galaxies'' after the NGE}}

===''Star Wars Galaxies'' compilations===
On top of the expansions, SOE released several compilations of their games:

;''Star Wars Galaxies - The Total Experience''
:This pack included the original ''Star Wars Galaxies'' (''An Empire Divided''), ''Jump to Lightspeed'' and the ''Rage of the Wookiees'' expansion packs. Customers who bought this pack also received a BARC speeder as a gift.

;''Star Wars Galaxies - Starter Kit''
:The kit was the first version of the New Game Enhancement (NGE). It contained ''An Empire Divided'' and ''Jump to Lightspeed''. Customers who bought this pack also received an [[X-wing]] or [[TIE fighter]] instant transport vehicle as a gift.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwarsgalaxiesstarterkit/ |title=Star Wars Galaxies: Starter Kit |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=17 November 2005 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=16 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016120408/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwarsgalaxiesstarterkit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

;''Star Wars Galaxies - The Complete Online Adventures''
:This included the original game with the first three expansion packs, a DVD of never-before released bonus features, a slide show of more than 800 pieces of ''Star Wars Galaxies'' concept art, screenshots, excerpts from the popular ''From Pencil to Pixel'' book that chronicles the art of ''Star Wars Galaxies'' and interviews with the producers, and all the cinematic trailers for the game. It also included an exclusive in-game item for use while playing: a personal AT-RT vehicle as seen in ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|Revenge of the Sith]]''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Surette |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/swgcompleteonlineadventures/news.html?sid=6154452&om_act=convert&om_clk=mostpop |title=Star Wars Galaxies gets Complete collection |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=9 July 2003 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=16 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016141717/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/swgcompleteonlineadventures/news.html?sid=6154452&om_act=convert&om_clk=mostpop |url-status=live }}</ref> This version was the first to be released in [[Australia]], instead of ''An Empire Divided''.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

;''Star Wars Galaxies - The Complete Online Adventures Premium Digital Download''
:This included ''An Empire Divided'', ''Jump to Lightspeed'', ''Rage of the Wookiees'', ''Trials of Obi-Wan'', and players who purchase it also receive a bonus instant travel vehicle, the Queen Amidala Transport Ship and an AT-RT walker. No disc media is provided as it is an Internet download, which later came with a Queen Amidala Transport Ship (one per character), a General Grievous Wheel Bike, a Double seated Bike for the player and a friend (one per character), a Lava Flea mount (one per account), an Underground Mustafar Bunker player house (one per account), an AT-RT walker mount (one per account), a Varactyl mount (one per account).{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

===Novelization===
''Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine'' is a novel based in part on places and events in the game. It was authored by Voronica Whitney-Robinson and [[Haden Blackman]], the LucasArts producer of the game.<ref>{{cite book |author=Haden Blackman; Voronica Whitney-Robinson |title=The Ruins of Dantooine (Star Wars: Galaxies) |date=December 2003 |publisher=Del Rey |location=New York |isbn=0-345-47066-4 }}</ref> It was released in December 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Closer Look: The Ruins of Dantooine|url=https://www.starwars.com/eu/lit/novel/news20031016.html|website=starwars.com|access-date=4 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307170237/http://www.starwars.com/eu/lit/novel/news20031016.html|archive-date=7 March 2005|date=16 October 2003}}</ref>

===''Trading Card Game''===
On August 27, 2008, following the success of SOE's ''[[Legends of Norrath]]'', LucasArts and SOE released ''Champions of the Force'', an online [[trading card game]] based on ''Galaxies''. In the game, players could collect, battle, and trade with each other they could also buy new cards and get in-game items. Over one hundred cards were created for players to find and play against others with new artwork featured on each card.

=== Emulation ===
{{external links|section|date=August 2023}}
In 2004, the [https://swgemu.com SWGEmu] project was founded with the intention of re-creating the Pre-Combat Upgrade version of ''Galaxies'' from scratch through [[Video game console emulator|emulation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/headline-story/15335/star-wars-galaxies-swgemu-project/|title=The rise, fall, and return of Star Wars Galaxies - The Kernel|last=Scimeca|first=Dennis|date=20 December 2015|publisher=Kernelmag.dailydot.com|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726003848/https://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/headline-story/15335/star-wars-galaxies-swgemu-project/|url-status=live}}</ref> The goal of SWGEmu is to emulate the game to its entirety as it was on the live servers through patch 14.1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/content.php?r=704-What-is-SWGEmu-FAQ|title=SWGEmu Forums - What is SWGEmu? FAQ|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320052406/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/content.php?r=704-What-is-SWGEmu-FAQ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69|title=SWGEmu Mission Statement|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127091259/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the SWGEmu project announced it was near completion of the base game (colloquially referred to as version 1.0).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228703|title=SWGEmu, The Next Decade...|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513054205/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228703|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75|title=Project Status List|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322123214/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75|url-status=live}}</ref> They also announced that [[Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed|Jump to Lightspeed]] may no longer be included in version 1.0 due to the complexities of implementing the system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225181|title=SWGEmu - 1.0 and the future of JTL|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317102523/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225181|url-status=live}}</ref> SWGEmu is an [[Open-source software|open source]] project distributed under the [[GNU Affero General Public License]]. The server code base, known as Core3, has been open source since before 2010, allowing for volunteers to easily contribute to its development. In 2019, SWGEmu also open sourced its engine, known as Engine3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swgemu.com/forums/content.php?r=834-Open-sourcing-the-engine|title=SWGEmu Forums - Open sourcing the engine|website=www.swgemu.com|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721083054/https://www.swgemu.com/forums/content.php?r=834-Open-sourcing-the-engine|url-status=live}}</ref> Because SWGEmu is open source, any members are able to easily launch their own server for their own community. There are several community-run servers which develop content beyond the 14.1 publish goal of SWGEmu, such as [https://swgawakening.com/ Awakening], [https://darkrebellionrp.wordpress.com/ Dark Rebellion], [https://empireinflames.com/ Empire in Flames], [https://www.swginfinity.com/ Infinity] and [http://swgreckoning.com/ Reckoning]. Other projects like [https://discord.gg/RJ6eEsW CUEmu] look to use SWGEmu's Core3 code base to emulate the publish 15 era of ''Galaxies'', also known as the Combat Upgrade.

In 2011, after SOE announced the intention of shutting down Star Wars Galaxies, [https://projectswg.com Project SWG] was founded to emulate the NGE version of Star Wars Galaxies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.projectswg.com/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723061028/http://www.projectswg.com/about.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 July 2012|title=ProjectSWG NGE Emulator|date=23 July 2012|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Project SWG has not been as objectively successful as SWGEmu and has undergone multiple [[Code refactoring|refactors]] of their code since conception. Their current server, [https://github.com/ProjectSWGCore/Holocore Holocore], is still under development by a small team and is several years away from completion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.projectswg.com/wcf/index.php?roadmap_development_nge/|title=Roadmap Development NGE|website=Project SWG - a Star Wars Galaxies Emulator - Resurrecting the Galaxy|language=en|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=23 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423045643/https://www.projectswg.com/wcf/index.php?roadmap_development_nge/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Both SWGEmu and Project SWG are regarded as the primary emulation projects for ''Galaxies'' with other communities utilizing their source code to run their own server, sometimes contributing specific code to create their own content or by using shared content from resources such as [http://modthegalaxy.com ModTheGalaxy], a game modification distribution forum. Some player-made tools created while ''Galaxies'' was live, such as [http://www.swgcraft.co.uk/dev/home.php SWGCraft] and [https://galaxyharvester.net/ghHome.py GalaxyHarvester], and are running with connections to hosted servers.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

=== Source code leak ===
In 2013, a former [[Sony Online Entertainment|SOE]] employee leaked a copy of the 2010 production release source code for the ''Galaxies'' client, server, 3rd party libraries, and development tools to a few former players involved with the NGE ''Galaxies'' emulator [https://projectswg.com Project SWG]. The code was later leaked beyond its intended recipients and made available online.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/30/star-wars-galaxy-mmo-preservation/|title=How Players Revived Star Wars Galaxies And EverQuest|last=Messner|first=Steven|date=30 December 2015|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=4 March 2020|archive-date=4 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304055837/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/30/star-wars-galaxy-mmo-preservation/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206075426/http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/players/index.vm |date=6 February 2010 |title=Official website }}
* {{moby game|id=/star-wars-galaxies-an-empire-divided}}
* {{Wookieepedia}}

{{Star Wars games}}
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