We’ve cracked the code.

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve figured out just how long ago “a long time ago” is!

Okay, so the newStar Warshappened.

Its pretty swell and I wont spoil it.

A long time ago?

If you say so, butwhenin the past?

How far back are we talking here?

TheStar Warscommunity has its own way to keep track of its timeline without bringing Earth years into it.

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That meansA New Hopeis 0 ABY (again, After Battle of Yavin).

WhileEmpire Strikes Backis three years afterA New Hope,Return of the Jediis only a year afterEmpire.

In other words,Return of the Jedihappened in 4 ABY.

Four years earlier than it really should be, but thats fine.

Now, there was that game in 2008 calledStar Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Then he was cloned and had more adventures, but thats not important.

Supposedly, Galens death happened around the 2 BBY mark.

SoNew Hopewas about two years later.

For that we must take a trip to another franchise.

A franchise transcending history and the world.

A tale of souls and swords eternally retold.

WhenSoulCalibur IVhit, they decided to throw a bunch of guest characters in there.

Id say that would probably mean thatSoulCalibur IVtakes place 3 BBY.

Now were getting somewhere.

Then cameSoulCalibur V. This sadly did not feature anyStar Warscharacters, but it does give a lot of reference.

That means thatSoulCalibur Vis ABY 14.

Although the game lacks arcade mode endings for some ungodly reason, it does have a story mode.

The title of the story mode?

1607 AD is 14 years after the first Death Star blew up!

We have our reference!

That meansNew Hopetook place in 1593 AD.

Ergo,Star Wars: The Force Awakenstakes place in the year 1627 AD.

Theres our nerdier version offiguring out when Ice Cube had a good day!

Meanwhile, theSoulCaliburseries is a prequel to theTekkenseries.

But anyway, didnt Disneys acquisition ofStar Warsturn basically all of the Expanded Universe null and void?

Well…yeah, I guess.

Okay, soSoulCalibur Vdidnt happen within the current canon.

Even the entire story ofForce Unleashedand its sequel are negated.

I still figure that while the events are altered, the time placement would surely remain the same.

I think its a pretty sound theory.

Oh, God damn it!

All right, well I guess it turns outThe Force Awakenstakes place in the year 2011.

Gavin Jasper is shockingly single.

Go figure.Check him out on TindI mean, Twitter!