Jump to Lightspeed
Pilot professions and ship crafting live now — space combat zones launching Fall 2026.
What is Jump to Lightspeed?
A space expansion that turns SWG into two games in one — partially live, fully launching Fall 2026.
Jump to Lightspeed (JTL) is the first expansion for Star Wars Galaxies and is currently in active development on SWG Infinity. The ground-game content is complete — pilot professions, all three faction trees, and player-crafted ship components are available now. Space combat zones are approximately 75% complete and targeted for full launch in Fall 2026.
When fully live, JTL adds an entirely separate gameplay layer: a full 3D space combat environment, modular player-crafted starships, and space-exclusive mission content. The space zones are massive and persistent with real-time Newtonian physics — speed, inertia, and targeting all matter.
JTL is optional — you can play SWG for years without ever launching to space — but for many players it becomes their primary activity. The pilot community is already active and preparing for full launch.
Your First Flight
Up and flying in four steps.
Visit a Pilot Recruiter
Pilot Recruiters are located in every major starport on every planet. Look for the NPC labelled “Pilot Recruiter” inside the starport building. They will walk you through your faction choice and issue your first ship.
Choose Your Faction
Select one of three pilot factions: Imperial Navy, Rebel Alliance, or Freelance (neutral). This choice affects which ships you can fly, which missions you get access to, and which pilot profession tree you advance through. You cannot change faction without starting over, so choose carefully.
Receive Your Starter Ship
Your recruiter will give you a basic starter ship suited to your chosen faction. It is functional but modest — treat it as a training vehicle. Your goal is to upgrade it as soon as your skill and credits allow.
Launch to Space
Inside any starport, use the “Launch to Space” option. This takes you to the space zone above your current planet. Each planet has its own space zone with distinct enemy patrols, mission types, and difficulty levels.
Pilot Professions
Three factions, three playstyles, three ship rosters.
Imperial Navy
The Empire rewards discipline and firepower. Imperial pilots fly TIE fighters and their variants — fast, lightly armoured, and built for aggression. The Imperial pilot tree emphasises heavy weapons, shield breaking, and coordinated assault. Best for players who like structured, high-damage combat.
Rebel Alliance
The Rebellion prioritises agility and survivability. Rebel pilots fly X-Wings, A-Wings, and Y-Wings — iconic ships with stronger shields and diverse roles. The Rebel pilot tree emphasises evasion, precision targeting, and support capabilities. Best for players who prefer adaptable, tactical combat.
Freelance
Neutral pilots have the most diverse ship options, including ships unavailable to factional pilots. The Freelance tree is the most versatile and is the best choice for Shipwrights and traders who want space access without factional commitments. Great for players who prioritise exploration and economy.
Ship Components
Every ship is modular. Every component is upgradeable. All of it is player-crafted.
Ships in SWG are not fixed platforms — they are assemblies of individual upgradeable components. Every component slot can be improved independently, and all top-tier components are crafted by player Shipwrights. The difference between a stock ship and a fully upgraded player-crafted one is enormous.
Reactor
Powers all ship systems. Higher-grade reactors enable more powerful weapons and shields simultaneously.
Engine
Controls speed, turning rate, and acceleration. The single most important component for survival.
Booster
Short-burst speed increase. Critical for breaking pursuit or closing distance on targets.
Shield Generator
Front and rear shields absorb damage before it reaches the hull. Essential for extended engagements.
Capacitor
Energy storage for weapons. Determines how long you can fire sustained bursts before needing to recharge.
Armour & Weapons
Hull protection and offensive firepower. Multiple weapon slots allow mixed loadouts for different roles.
Space Mission Types
Escort Missions
Protect a friendly ship or convoy from enemy attack while it travels to its destination. Rewards defensive flying skills and situational awareness.
Patrol Missions
Clear enemy patrols from designated space sectors. Good XP, repeatable, and suitable for solo pilots in the early and mid progression.
Assault Missions
Attack enemy targets — stations, capital ships, or hardened patrol groups. Higher reward, higher difficulty. The backbone of faction point income in space.
Space Dungeons
Derelict stations and hidden sectors with powerful NPC enemies and unique loot. Group content for experienced pilots. Rare rewards including unique ship components.
Shipwright Integration
The best ships and components in SWG are 100% player-crafted. No NPC vendor sells gear that competes with a skilled Shipwright using high-quality resources. This makes the Shipwright profession one of the most economically powerful in the game and creates a deep interdependence between pilots and crafters.
If you want to fly competitively, find a Shipwright guild. If you want to play the economy as a Shipwright, the JTL player base is a consistently hungry market.
Pilot Tips
Upgrade your engine first
In space, speed equals survival. A fast ship can disengage from bad situations, dictate engagement range, and run down fleeing targets. Before upgrading weapons or shields, invest in the best engine your credits can buy.
Practice in Corellia space
Corellia space has lower-difficulty NPC patrols and is forgiving for new pilots. Use it to learn the controls, understand how to manage energy between weapons/shields/engine, and get comfortable with 3D combat before moving to harder zones.
Target enemy engines to disable
In PvP and hard PvE, targeting the enemy’s engine component deals component damage that can reduce their speed and manoeuvrability without destroying the whole ship. A disabled ship is a dead ship. Learn component targeting early.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The planetary game is a complete, deep experience on its own. Many players spend years on the ground and never engage with space content. JTL adds a parallel game for players who want it — but skipping it entirely does not limit your planetary progression in any way. That said, it is included and well worth trying at some point.
Your starter ship is determined by your faction choice and is functional for learning the basics. Rebel starters (Z-95 Headhunter) and Freelance starters (Civilian Naboo Starfighter) are generally considered slightly more forgiving for new pilots than the TIE Fighter. Upgrade to a better ship as soon as you can afford player-crafted components.
No. Each pilot faction has a restricted ship roster — Imperial pilots cannot fly Rebel-specific ships and vice versa. Freelance pilots have the broadest selection and can fly many ships available to neither faction pilot. If flying a specific ship (like an X-Wing) is important to you, factor that into your faction choice at the recruiter.