The journey hasn’t exactly been smooth for the much-anticipated Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake. In the three years since it officially entered development:
- Aspyr Media — the studio charged with “rebuilding the game from the ground up” — fired two senior developers, bringing the entire project to a standstill in 2022
- Saber Interactive — which joined Aspyr Media, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Lucasfilm Games on this endeavour earlier that year — was handed the reins
- The initial cinematic announcement trailer was then deleted from PlayStation’s own YouTube channel last year, leading to widespread speculation about whether it was dead in the water (the company would later cite “expired music licences” as the reason)
- And just last month, Saber Interactive was sold to Beacon Interactive by parent company Embracer Group as part of an extensive restructuring — major lay-offs, studio closures, multiple game cancellations, etc.
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It also hasn’t helped that updates have been few and far between. But thankfully, the world has just been offered a new hope by Matthew Karch, CEO & Co-Founder of Saber Interactive, who recently reassured the masses their Knights of the Old Republic remake is still cooking.
“It’s clear and it’s obvious that we’re working on this. It’s been in the press numerous times,” he said (via IGN).
“What I will say is that the game is alive and well, and we’re dedicated to making sure we exceed consumer expectations.”
The original video game takes place 4,000 thousand years before the Star Wars prequel films when Darth Malak (apprentice of Darth Revan) has unleashed a Sith armada against the Republic. Scattered and vulnerable by Malak’s aggression, many Jedi die in battle while others swear loyalty and allegiance to Malak. Players can decide whether to align with the light or dark side of the Force.
The property would go on to spawn a sequel, a considerable amount of expansion content, as well as what are probably the most entertaining cinematics in gaming history. As we’ve previously noted, there’s even a Knights of the Old Republic film reportedly in the works.
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“I really, really think that RPGs have never been the same since. It’s a big honour to have the opportunity to work on it,” said Orion Kellogg, Executive Producer at Lucasfilm Games.
“It’s telling a story that should feel very familiar and authentic to Star Wars fans. It tells stories about light and dark, about heroes, and the journeys that common people can go on to become heroes and figure out who they are.”
Further details such as a hard release date for the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake have yet to be announced — for the time being, keep an eye out here for potential updates and check out the cinematic announcement trailer above.
