Though there's not been much recent news directly about the game, work on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) remake is ongoing. That said, since we've not seen any substantial updates since the brief teaser released in 2021, it seems likely that the role-playing game (RPG) is still a ways off yet.
In the original KOTOR, you play as a mysterious Force user who finds themself embroiled in a war between the Galactic Republic and the sinister forces of Darth Malgus. If you're lost, don't worry, KOTOR is set thousands of years before the Star Wars movies, an approach that gave the game much more room to maneuver when it came to telling its own unique story. With this freedom, the original KOTOR could offer a tale full of memorable characters, weighty moral choices, and fantastic setpieces.
The KOTOR remake is coming courtesy of Saber Interactive, a US-based developer that, until very recently, was owned by the Embracer Group - a Swedish media conglomerate. However, the original KOTOR was developed by BioWare, a veteran studio well known for crafting some of the best RPGs and the best story games. We've gathered every spec of information about the upcoming game, in order to figure out if Saber will be able to live up to BioWare's legacy. Read on to learn more and to see our predictions.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake: cut to the chase
- What is it? A remake of the classic Star Wars RPG
- When is it coming out? TBC
- What can I play it on? PS5 (as a timed console exclusive)]
- Who's making it? Saber Interactive
Star Wars KOTOR remake - what we know so far
A release date for the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake hasn’t been confirmed yet. Given the lack of material available for the game from official sources, we don’t expect to get another look at this Star Wars RPG any time soon. The first developer, Aspyr, confirmed that the game was still in early development before Saber Interactive took over, and now, Saber has separated from parent group Embracer, reportedly taking KOTOR with them.
Since its split from Embracer Group earlier this year, Saber has confirmed that KOTOR Remake is still in development. No further details have been given.
However, we do know that the KOTOR remake will launch as a timed console exclusive on PS5. That means it could come to Xbox Series X|S and PC after a short while, though an Xbox release date or window hasn’t been confirmed yet, either.
While you wait for more news, be sure to check out our Star Wars Outlaws review, to see whether or not the latest Star Wars gaming adventure is worth checking out.
Knights of the Old Republic remake trailer
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake was officially announced at the PlayStation Showcase 2021, with a brief teaser trailer. The trailer, seen below (still available on the IGN YouTube account), has the voice of Bastilla Shan, one of the recruitable characters in the original title, and shows off a pivotal villain from the story: Darth Revan.
In a strange turn of events, the trailer has since been de-listed from the official PlayStation YouTube channel, though it remains accessible on other channels. It's unknown as to whether or not this is a reflection of development trouble or simply a quirk of Sony's media department.
We haven't seen any more trailers since this first look, but if you want to keep your eye out for more, then check out PlayStation's official Youtube channel.
Knights of the Old Republic remake story and setting
Set over 4,000 years before the films, where the Sith are skittering about in the shadows, the original game has you play as a Force-user who finds themself in a war between the Galactic Republic and the evil forces of Darth Malak.
Unlike the Star Wars films, the Sith of KOTOR have an empire of their own and are a force to be reckoned with, making them a much more concrete threat. Indeed, the events of KOTOR take place against the backdrop of an ongoing war, with the opening taking place in the aftermath of a battle with a Sith armada. It's likely that the remake will follow a similar, if not identical path.
It’s hard to overestimate just how influential this game was upon its original release. For the time, the BioWare-developed original offered unparalleled choice when directing your character's story and personality. The player was able to make numerous decisions throughout the game that would affect the trajectory of the narrative, an innovation that would go on to influence Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and a host of other later RPGs. KOTOR was an impressively open take on the Star Wars universe, released during a time when the franchise still felt like it had mysterious uncharted corners of lore to explore.
KOTOR is also known for its memorable companion characters, too. Each with their own goals and backstories, the RPG's supporting cast is well-written and memorable. It'll be exciting to see how Saber approaches the likes of the stoic Bastila Shan or the amusingly amoral HK-47.
Knights of the Old Republic remake gameplay - will it be close to the original?
The original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic title was an RPG that saw players travel to different planets and choose various plot decisions that would slowly progress the narrative and allow you to collect either Light Side or Dark Side points. These points would eventually determine whether your character walked the path of the Dark Side or the Light Side, while also allowing access to certain powers.
We don't know exactly how closely Saber will follow the original KOTOR in the Remake, but it seems very likely that we'll see Light Side and Dark Side points return in some form, since this sort of duality is fundamental to the Star Wars setting.
Combat in the original KOTOR was a hybrid of traditional 'computer role-playing game' (CRPG} mechanics and more modern action-oriented offerings. Battles could be paused mid-flow to give you time to think, but the engagements themselves would play out in real-time. You could also queue up different attacks and techniques.
We haven't seen any footage for the remake yet, but players can expect it to stay largely similar to the original. “We’re rebuilding one of the greatest RPGs of all time for a new generation", Aspyr’s Lead Producer, Ryan Treadwell, said in a PlayStation Blog post, "while maintaining the integrity of the story and characters that we’ve come to cherish". That said, since the KOTOR remake is no longer in Aspyr's hands, it's not yet been confirmed if Sabre take a similar approach - though a stark departure from Treadwell's goals does seem unlikely.
Knights of the Old Republic remake news
Embracer Group sells off Saber Interactive studios and assets
Beacon Interactive, a holding company created by Saber co-founder Matthew Karch, purchased Saber alongside a range of subsidiary studios and ongoing projects, including the KOTOR remake. Given Embracer's recent instability, this could mean good things for Saber and, by extension, for the remake.
KOTOR Trailer delisted from Sony's YouTube channel
The announcement trailer for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has been taken down from Sony's official YouTube channel. Saber Interactive and its parent company at the time, Embracer Group, reportedly declined to comment on this move (via TheGamer), stoking fears that the game may be stuck in development limbo.
Who is making the Knights of the Old Republic Remake?
After what seemed like an indefinite pause in development under Aspyr, the parent organization Embracer Group has confirmed that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake will be under new management. Embracer wrote in a blog post that the change was made to “ensure the quality bar is where we need it to be for the title.”
The responsibility has now passed up the chain to Aspyr's parent company Saber Interactive to complete the development of the RPG. Saber Interactive was already reportedly overseeing the production of KOTOR Remake, so this switch hopefully means that we won't see a massive change in direction for this anticipated sci-fi title.
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