The Best Star Wars Project In The Works Is Dead
The highly anticipated Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake has been declared dead, leaving fans in dismay and speculating about the fate of this ambitious project.
According to Insider Gaming, Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb dropped the bombshell during his Game Mess Mornings show, unequivocally stating, “Just full stop. This game is not being worked on in any way, at any studio.”
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake
Originally revealed in 2021 during the Sony PlayStation Showcase, the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake aimed to breathe new life into the 2003 BioWare classic.
However, it quickly became mired in development troubles, passing through the hands of Aspyr Media before being handed over to Saber Interactive in August 2022, only to now be pronounced dead on the table by Grubb.
The secrecy surrounding the project intensified as Embracer Group, Aspyr’s parent company, failed to provide any updates during quarterly earnings calls. Concerns over the project were further fueled when Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors expressed reluctance to confirm progress on Knights of the Old Republic during the most recent earnings call.
Fans Were Excited
The demise of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake comes as a bitter disappointment to fans who were eagerly awaiting a reimagined version of the beloved classic.
The initial announcement in 2021 generated considerable excitement, with promises to rebuild the game from the ground up using the latest technology while staying true to the original’s revered story.
Setbacks and Firings
The project’s troubled history became apparent when Bloomberg News reported on July 26, 2022, that development had been indefinitely halted, citing internal issues within Aspyr.
A significant setback occurred when a vertical slice demo, showcased to Lucasfilm Ltd. and Sony Interactive Entertainment representatives on June 30, failed to meet Aspyr’s standards.
Knights of the Old Republic’s design director Brad Prince and art director Jason Minor were subsequently fired, leading to what was assumed to be a temporary pause in development.
Continued Issues
The situation worsened when it was suggested in August that Knights of the Old Republic had transitioned to Saber Interactive entirely. This was later confirmed when Embracer announced the transition of a “AAA project” to “another studio within the Group.”
The official response from Embracer in May 2023 did little to assuage concerns. During an investors meeting, CEO Lars Wingefors, when asked about the game’s status, cryptically replied that it was his “favorite question” but refrained from providing a definitive answer.
At that time, the remake was still listed on the financial report as being in development.
No Comments Coming
Now that the project has officially been announced deceased, Wingefors seems to have changed his tune and is no longer willing to comment on the games’ status, leaving fans in the dark about the reasons behind the sudden demise of the much-anticipated remake.
When asked about Knights of the Old Republic during the most recent earnings call on Thursday, Wingefors said, “I notice that anything I say to this becomes a headline, so that is my only comment.”
Any Future Chances?
As fans come to terms with the demise of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, questions linger about the future of the franchise and whether another studio will pick up the mantle to bring this iconic story to a new generation of gamers.
The disappointment is thick for Star Wars fans looking forward to the remake, and only time will reveal if the Force will be strong enough to revive this once-promising venture or if it will remain a tragic footnote lost in the history of the galaxy far, far away.
