Imagine if FFG said that there would be a new "Standard" format which would only allow the most recent ships to be played in Standard Tournaments, say... the last 2 years worth of expansions. Kinda like how Magic the Gathering does things, and what Hearthstone just did.
I doubt they'd ever do that, but geesh could you imagine?
I think you need to look at the rotation for the LCGs.
That would essentially remove every Trilogy ship, pilot and crew from the game (with a few exceptions). It just wouldn't be 'Star Wars' anymore.
and my little nerd heart would break.
That would essentially remove every Trilogy ship, pilot and crew from the game (with a few exceptions). It just wouldn't be 'Star Wars' anymore.
and my little nerd heart would break.
I don't think its the direction they should go, as the system they've used to update old ships has worked for the most part, but this approach doesn't prevent them from reprinting old ships with new stats to let them find their place in the current state of the game. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of the idea of being told that anything I've bought is no longer legal, but this point has been brought up to me in the past. They could, for instance, make a new version of the T-65 that is more in line with the current meta.
I don't want it to happen, but just being devil's advocate.
This actually was a question on the latest interview with Alex Davies and the S&V podcast.
Basically, the answer is no because their releases are much smaller than that of card games.
And also due to the granular nature of the point system, they have been able to keep power creep to a minimum. And because you are not relying on random card draw, it is easier for the designers to respond to dominant threats. Unlike in card games where rotation is necessary to control power creep as well as dominant cards.
No.
That would essentially remove every Trilogy ship, pilot and crew from the game (with a few exceptions). It just wouldn't be 'Star Wars' anymore.
and my little nerd heart would break.
It wouldn't if done correctly.
I can see such a format. It would take waves 1-3 as constant basis (+TFA core, probably) and then would rotate similar to the LCGs.
What I can't see in the near and semi-distant future is a need for it, although it could be an interesting home rules format for when you want to mix up your local tournaments.
Now, how would it be make this system specificaly is interesting. It would be highly benficial to remove high impact upgrades like Engine Upgrade or Veteran Instincts. Both of them came out in wave 2, though, the ships from which we certainly wouldn't want to lose. A way to do this would be to only keep wave 1 entirely and 2-3 only for ships. Notable losses are Deadeye, EU, VI, PTL, Homing Missile, Proxy Mines, Seismic Charges, Proton Bombs, the Slave 1 and MIllenium Falcon titles (really weird, might warrant a special "ship specific cards are always legal if their ship is, also protects us from fixes rotating out), HLC, FCS. Lots of top of the power curve upgrades. Doing this certainly would make a great impact and highly emphasise new waves. Reprints should probably remain banned, ships with aces treatment that rotate out (hey Defender!) only use the pilots from those ace expansions.
How many additional waves would be necessary to keep up some diversity, though? My gut feeling is always the latest 3 to make it a round 6. That would conveniently mean to at this point remove waves 4 and 5 who both aren't exactly fan favourites, but it would also in one wave cripple scum options unless we add their wave 6 to the constant pool.
I am just rambeling, but I do think this could be a fun way to play X-Wing. It shouldn't be the main format, but its an amazing way to create radical change. I might take this thoght experiment further in a more structured way tomorrow.
This actually was a question on the latest interview with Alex Davies and the S&V podcast.
Basically, the answer is no because their releases are much smaller than that of card games.
And also due to the granular nature of the point system, they have been able to keep power creep to a minimum. And because you are not relying on random card draw, it is easier for the designers to respond to dominant threats. Unlike in card games where rotation is necessary to control power creep as well as dominant cards.
Great answer!
And plus, if some older combination ends up being overpowered they can always errata something, like they did with tactician. And even that they hardly ever have to do. it's kinda cool how they do such a good job at keeping relative balance after so many years of making new product.
I would much rather see formats that restrict the composition of the squads. Like a Fighter Wing tournament that's all small base ships, or an all-generics format. Maybe not high level kind of tourneys, but something a little different from "Throw your best 100 points out there."
I see a community based "commander" type format that i've been small batch testing getting the ability to "be a thing".
I really don't see a format much like the LCGs and what Hearhtstone has taken (although I disagree with Blizzards decision with that format) 
If FFG is that worried about the design space I could see them splitting off Resistance and 1stOrder from their "primary factions" and making them their own factions. It would take one of the top pilots from the Rebels (Poe) and even Empire is starting to use TIE/FOs more often. The 2 original factions would have been fully fleshed out so their faction characteristics and traits would have been locked in and the 2 TFA factions would have been like scum still missing some major ship roles although they may have more point efficient ships. 
And for more design space there are two more factions in the prequels 