Is BD-1 the Best Buddy Droid in ‘Star Wars’?

Droids in Star Wars media aren’t just robots or automatons. Love or hate them, droids are an integral part of the galaxy as we know it. From background extras in a cantina to major players in the plot to stop the Death Star, droids are characters we’re meant to care about in some capacity, even if we don’t speak binary.

Even before we knew of their importance, the first two droids we met in 1977 had restraining bolts placed on them. This inherently garners viewers' sympathy — or at the very least, attention. 

Six years after the team at Respawn Entertainment dropped the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order reveal trailer, most gamers don’t think of Cal Kestis without the bipedal buddy droid looking over his shoulder, BD-1.

Respawn Entertainment/Lucasfilm

BD - 1: The Buddy Droid

In a tale as old as time, we’ve seen plenty of galactic iterations of a boy and his dog. Anakin and Luke Skywalker have R2-D2 (and, yes, C-3PO). Poe Dameron has BB-8. The hero of the Star Wars Jedi games, Cal Kestis, meets BD-1 in a scene not unlike that of R2-D2 periscoping his way out of the Dagobah swamp. 

The team at Respawn knew the importance of droids in Star Wars and wanted to explore pairing Cal with a buddy who would tag along on his adventure. The droid sidekick would keep Cal and the player company and provide functional and satisfying gameplay at the same time.

In terms of personality, Stig Asmussen, the game’s creative director, has cited the bond between Snoopy and Woodstock as inspiration. Codenamed Bird Dog, for a time, the acronym matching that of Buddy Droid was pure coincidence. The further “droidefication” of the name, BD-1, exemplifies the little companion’s curiosity, loyalty, and role as an extension of Cal’s exploration. 

Respawn Entertainment/Lucasfilm

In any Star Wars project, there’s potential for other tie-in narratives or companion pieces. (I’m looking at you, Rogue One to Andor pipeline). So, when conceptualizing BD-1, examining his potential in other media was as important as defining his role in the game. That led to conscious design choices that work alongside a strong narrative and contribute to the wealth of established lore developers could pull from.

It's noteworthy just how integral BD-1 is to the narrative. Even though a sequel wasn’t guaranteed, the second game, Survivor, features a heartwarming sequence in which players experience small, yet meaningful interactions among the Mantis crew captured from the perspective of BD-1’s lenses.

The scenes, effectively a holo-flashback, help players who did not read Jedi: Battle Scars catch up with what happened between the two games (and give those who did a few extra vignettes to enjoy). At the same time, these scenes reinforce the in-the-moment interactions players experience with BD-1 to build the emotional framework we expect to find at the core of all great Star Wars stories. 

Above all, Respawn staff were fans of Star Wars before development, and it is a tribute to their love of the franchise that small details permeate their creations and make all the difference. 

Speaking of Dagobah again, for example, it’s not a coincidence that BD-1 riding atop Cal’s shoulders mimics that of Yoda atop Luke’s. Eno Cordova hiding the holocron is not unlike Leia’s message for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Design

The idea of “movie magic” indicates that film studios can get away with a lot via visual effects, be they practical or computer-generated. Sometimes, droids on set were costumes; others were remote-controlled. In one case, fan favorite K-2SO of Rogue One was depicted by Alan Tudyk on stilts while his droid counterpart was rendered in real-time. But even then, droids must “make sense” for the story. 

Designed to be both functional and absolutely freaking adorable, BD-1’s concept dictated elements of his design. If Respawn was going to have a droid companion in this game, it couldn’t just be for the sake of having a droid. The companion had to make sense during gameplay as much as it did narratively. In doing so, the team began constructing the lore alongside its design as the two went hand-in-hand.

Lucasfilm/Dark Horse Books

For example, even though he’s not the only BD explorer droid in existence, they are a rare make and model. In creating a new line of droids, Respawn also had to explain why so few were in the galaxy. Easy enough when economic hardship is widespread across the Empire — the company that developed the BD units tanked, so their run was quite limited.

With galactic explorers and archaeologists in mind, the iconic bipedal look was one of the first things that stuck as BD was expected to traverse various terrain. Further tools of the trade included thrusters, a scomp link, telescoping lenses, a holomap display, and, to the tinkerer’s delight, customizable colorways (as well as parts and pieces in Jedi Survivor). 

Where explorers and archaeologists required these tools for their expeditions, they conveniently help Cal in numerous situations as he races across the galaxy. From learning more about the Zeffonians to exploring ruins left over from the High Republic, and, oh yeah, trying not to get murdered as his rogue Jedi friend survives the Imperial bounty on his head, BD-1 has unlocked doors, ziplined across hazardous drops, and shot out stim canisters with the best of them.

Sound

At this point, there is so much to the Star Wars identity that can be considered iconic. Sound design has to be near the top of that list. Alongside designing BD-1’s appearance and functionality, communication style is equally important to bringing a droid to life. 

So, when you’ve got the opportunity to work with the best in the business, the original Star Wars droid sound designer, you’re gonna spend the credits and absolutely get your money’s worth.

Ben Burtt is known for his sound design across some of the biggest titles in science fiction film (and beyond). Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Wall-E … and those are just a small portion of his work. 

Developers from Respawn initially gave dialogue to Burtt, but workshopping and Burtt’s own expertise simplified BD’s language, and the droid’s physical features became a focal point for conveying emotion. 

Now, if you played the game and thought it would be more fun with a protocol droid like C-3PO palling around with you, that’s your prerogative… But when BD injures his little foot on Bogano, and he limps and whimpers like an injured dog? Please. I can’t take it.

Respawn Entertainment/Lucasfilm

The Competition

Here’s where the article gets contentious. 

Let it be known that the opinions stated here do not reflect all of Youtini. “Best little droid companions” has thousands of hits on the web, and my list is by no means exhaustive. But it's my chance to champion BD-1 specifically because players can spend upwards of forty hours with the little guy. Even more if you’re too impatient to learn proper boss fight rhythms. 

R2-D2: To the chagrin of earthlings everywhere, we’ll never know what this spicy little droid says. Rest assured, R2 is likely the most sarcastic binary speaker across the galaxy. Yeah, he’s got thrusters, a scomp link, the message from Leia, and decades of memory stored up, but… actually, okay, yeah. He’s pretty important. But is he cuter than BD-1?

BB-8: Here at Youtini, we focus on being positive, constructive fans. Even if we dislike something about the franchise, we try to reconcile those feelings peacefully. Whatever your thoughts on the Sequel Trilogy, the existence of BB-8 gets a flaming thumbs up. No notes. That said, BD-1 can also use ziplines — something our favorite little soccer ball can’t do. Imagine if BD was on Bracca with Cal!

B2EMO: Bless B2’s anxious, non-existent heart. B2 just wants to protect loved ones. Great, clunky little design reminiscent of a turtle. Anxious in a way that indicates he should be protected at all costs. We love him, but something about BD-1’s curiosity (and absolute lack of self-preservation) may put him just above the galaxy’s favorite red cube.

Chopper: Gnarly, cranky, and loyal in the way Astromechs have come to be known, Chopper appears in both animation and live-action. Serving alongside the Ghost Crew, Chopper’s no novice when it comes to ship maintenance or completing a mission. He does, however, actively assault his people. Can’t say the same about our buddy droid!

Respawn Entertainment/Lucasfilm

The Ultimate Buddy

Suffice it to say that BD-1’s popularity surpasses the screen. In addition to  Respawn’s full-sized replica produced for EA Play 2019 prior to the game’s release, BD-1’s likeness has appeared in a LEGO set, part of a Black Series set from Hasbro, and numerous fan builds shared across the galaxy. 

BD-1’s legacy is inherently tied to the journey of Cal Kestis and the Mantis crew, and the pantheon of Star Wars droids is all the better for it. After all, not all droids can wear solar visors when they’re feeling rad!

Respawn Entertainment/Lucasfilm