Hello Friends! Welcome once again to our weekly roundup of news from a galaxy far, far away.

As we approach the November 12 launch date for The Mandalorian on Disney+, more and more exciting info is coming to us. This week we heard some specifics from show runner Jon Favreau, director Dave Filoni, and lead actor Pedro Pascal on what makes his character different from the Fett fellows who first made the iconic armor famous. From the contrasts between heroism and villainy, to the differences in cultural connections to Mandalore and the Mandalorian way of navigating life, the galaxy, and everything– the series as-yet-unnamed (to us, anyway!) will most certainly be new and different.

And in further, possibly even more exciting Mandalorian news: it was announced this week that part of the show’s lore will explore the early origins and gradual rise of the First Order— a series of events long speculated about by fandom. Director Dave Filoni says they plan to use elements from across the various media of Star Wars storytelling to show what the galaxy far, far away was like just after the defeat of the Empire. The show will examine what kinds of conditions existed that could have led to the First Order’s formation, growth, and ultimate ability to wreak vengeance on the Republic.

In a bit of non-Mandalorian news, gamers will be happy to learn that two classic titles: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy are being given new life on new consoles. Both games are coming for Nintendo Switch, with Jedi Outcast debuting in just a few weeks and Jedi Academy to follow in 2020. Both of these beloved titles come to the Switch with added functionality, including Gyro-Aiming support for the Switch’s Joy-Cons– while maintaining their much-celebrated online multiplayer battles. Both titles are also coming for PlayStation 4.

And if you’re in the mood for some more casual, but still engaging gaming, look no further than the new LEGO Star Wars Battles. The mobile game, headed our way in 2020, “brings together every era of Star Wars storytelling to collect, build, and fight in the greatest LEGO Star Wars battles the galaxy has ever seen”. Join the light side or the dark side and square off in head-to-head PvP battles in real time on your mobile device playing as your favorite Star Wars characters.  This one looks like fun, y’all.

That’s all I have this week. As always, send Star Wars news tips to Tosche Station and favorite bacon recipes to @MandaTheGinger