‘Temple of Darkness’ interactive virtual reality short coming to ‘Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge’

ILMxLAB and Lucasfilm have announced a new canonical adventure that puts players in the role of Jedi Padawan, with Master Yoda as their guide.

As part of the broader “Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge” virtual reality gaming experience, “Temple of Darkness” is set during The High Republic, a new era in the Star Wars storyline. Events take place hundreds of years before the events of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” when the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order are at the height of their power as they serve and protect the galaxy.

Seezelslak (voiced by “Saturday Night Live” actor Bobby Moynihan), a talkative Azumel bartender who regales patrons with fantastical tales at Seezelslak Cantina on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost, acts as narrator of the adventure that unfolds as players assume the role of Padawan Ady Sun’Zee, student at a remote Jedi research facility on the planet of Batuu.

But all is not well. When a mysterious relic creates a cataclysm of evil inside the Jedi temple, Ady senses she is the only survivor. Jedi Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) receives the urgent distress signal she has sent to the Jedi Council, and together they confront the darkness lurking within the temple’s walls, and within Ady herself.

Director Jose Perez III shares his excitement for the new tale: “This powerful short story will transport fans back in time, hundreds of years before the Clone Wars. Through the power of virtual reality, they’ll get their first glimpse of Jedi life during The High Republic. Everyone at ILMxLAB is thrilled to help usher in this new era of Star Wars storytelling, and I can’t wait for fans to encounter Jedi Master Yoda and Padawan Ady Sun’Zee.”

“Temple of Darkness” expands on the world created in “Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge,” where players act as a droid repair technician who crashed on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost. Within this broader adventure, players battle alongside familiar characters including R2-D2 and C-3PO as they come face to face with new enemies, such as Tara Rashin (voiced by Debra Wilson from “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order”), infamous leader of criminal organization, the Guavian Death Gang.

Players can also experience other regions within the Star Wars galaxy, which Seezelslak reveals through his epic tales, adding further locations and eras to the adventure.

Creating Star Wars stories within this new timeline not only presents the opportunity to delve into adventures that have never been explored before, it will also feature interconnected stories, spanning multiple platforms and mediums.

James Waugh, vice president, franchise content & strategy at Lucasfilm, explains: “’Temple of Darkness’ in ‘Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge’ will give Star Wars fans an opportunity to step into a story set during The High Republic era on an incredibly transportive platform. It will be one of the first tales released taking place in this bold, adventurous new era for Star Wars storytelling, which we intend to see traverse multiple mediums over many years. We’re so proud of what so many incredibly talented authors, developers, licensing partners, and Lucasfilm colleagues have crafted together. It has been a labor of love.”

“Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge” will be released for $24.99 on the Oculus Quest platform on Nov. 19.