SWG

SWG is an acronym commonly referring to Star Wars Galaxies, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in the Star Wars universe. Developed by LucasArts in collaboration with Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), it launched for PC in 2003 and was published and operated by SOE under license from Lucasfilm.

Gameplay in Star Wars Galaxies emphasized sandbox and player-driven systems. Character progression was skill-based rather than level-based, with players choosing from a wide array of professions across combat, crafting, and adventuring lines. The game featured a robust crafting and economy, allowing players to become master artisans, traders, and suppliers who could influence supply chains across star systems. Space content was introduced with the Jump to Lightspeed expansion, adding spaceflight missions and space combat to the game world.

Star Wars Galaxies underwent several major updates, including the controversial New Game Enhancements (NGE) in 2005, which significantly overhauled class structure and combat mechanics in ways that many players felt diminished the sandbox experience. The changes contributed to a decline in subscriptions and community dissatisfaction, though they also brought new players and streamlined gameplay for some.

In 2011, Sony Online Entertainment announced the shutdown of Star Wars Galaxies, with services ending on December 15, 2011. Since then, fan-driven emulation efforts, such as SWGEmu, have aimed to preserve aspects of the original game for the community. The IP behind SWG is owned by Lucasfilm (now Lucasfilm Ltd., a Disney subsidiary), and the game’s legacy continues to influence discussions of sandbox design and player economy in MMOs.