STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR GLITCH – Play as Darth Vader in New Game+ (Dev Secret)

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Darth Vader Glitch
Image Credit: EA/Respawn Entertainment

Introduction

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has captivated fans with its gripping story, intense combat, and deep customization. But what if we told you there’s a hidden way to play as Darth Vader in New Game+ mode? A recently discovered glitch—possibly left in by developers as an Easter egg—allows players to take control of the Sith Lord himself.

In this article, we’ll explore:

How the Darth Vader glitch works
Step-by-step instructions to activate it
Whether this was an intentional developer secret
Community reactions and theories

How the Glitch Was Discovered

A Reddit user, u/SithLordHidden, first reported the glitch after completing New Game+ with 100% completion. While experimenting with combat animations, they triggered an unexpected character swap—suddenly, they were controlling Darth Vader instead of Cal Kestis.

Further testing revealed that the glitch is repeatable under specific conditions. Some speculate that Respawn Entertainment intentionally left this in as a hidden feature, possibly as a nod to Vader’s brief appearance in Jedi: Fallen Order.

Step-by-Step Guide to Play as Darth Vader

Prerequisites:

✔ Completed New Game+ at least once
✔ Unlocked all Stances (including Blaster & Crossguard)
✔ Reached a meditation point

Steps to Activate the Glitch:

Load your New Game+ save and travel to Koboh.
Switch to the Crossguard Stance (heavy lightsaber).
Perform a perfect dodge (timed just before an enemy attack lands).
Immediately after dodging, hold the block button and press the attack input (varies by platform).
If done correctly, Cal’s model will glitch briefly, then transform into Darth Vader.

Note: The effect is temporary—returning to a meditation point or dying will revert you to Cal.

Is This an Intentional Easter Egg?

Fans are divided on whether this was a developer secret or just a bizarre bug. Here’s why some believe it’s intentional:

🔹 Vader’s animations are polished—unlike typical glitches, his movements are fluid.
🔹 Sound effects change—his iconic breathing and lightsaber hum are present.
🔹 No crashes occur, suggesting Respawn may have tested this internally.

However, others argue it’s just an unintended model swap, similar to old Star Wars game glitches.

Community Reactions & Theories

The discovery has sparked excitement among Star Wars fans:

💬 “If this was left in on purpose, Respawn is genius. Imagine a future DLC where we play as Vader hunting Jedi!” – Reddit user

💬 “This feels like a test for a potential Vader mode. Maybe they planned it but scrapped it last minute?” – Twitter user

Some speculate that Darth Vader was originally playable in an early build, but the idea was cut. This glitch could be leftover code.

Conclusion: A Fun Secret or Just a Bug?

Whether intentional or not, the Darth Vader glitch adds a thrilling twist to Jedi: Survivor. If you’ve completed New Game+, try it out before a potential patch removes it!

Would you like to see an official Vader mode in a future update? Let us know in the comments!