At The Game Awards 2025, the Star Wars galaxy expanded in a way long hoped for by fans of narrative role-playing games. Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic was officially unveiled — a single-player, story-driven action RPG
positioned as a spiritual successor to the beloved Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) series.
A Return of a Legend: Casey Hudson at the Helm
The biggest shock to the community isn’t just the announcement itself — it’s who’s leading this project. Casey Hudson, the director behind the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the legendary Mass Effect trilogy, is directing this new game under his newly formed Arcanaut Studios in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Hudson’s return to a Star Wars RPG marks a full-circle moment for fans who’ve waited nearly two decades since the release of the original KOTOR.
Arcanaut Studios was founded in 2025, with Hudson and a team of veteran developers aiming to recapture what made classic BioWare RPGs so memorable: deep storytelling, choices with weight, cinematic presentation, and
immersive world-building. According to interviews tied to the reveal, Hudson has emphasized that the
goal is to build “emotionally powerful, cinematic adventures driven by
player agency” — the very pillars that made the original titles iconic.
What the Game Is — And What It Isn’t
Despite all the excitement, there are a few important clarifications:
- It isn’t a direct sequel to the KOTOR games. The developers have explicitly stated it’s not a continuation of those stories, though it clearly invokes the same spirit and themes.
- It’s a narrative action RPG. Unlike the turn-based/party formation style of the original KOTOR, this title
appears aimed at a more modern action RPG design — closer in feel to recent single-player cinematic RPGs. - You play as a Force user. The teaser suggests the protagonist is a Force-sensitive character journeying through a
galaxy on the brink of transformation during the end of the Old Republic era.
The first brief teaser, shown during the Game Awards, paints a mysterious picture: a rain-soaked world, a character igniting a lightsaber, a small team including a Quarren and a droid, and hints of ancient mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
Early Development, Big Ambitions
According to PC Gamer’s in-depth guide and other outlets, the game is very early in development. There is no release date or window yet — and industry observers speculate that the project likely won’t see release until 2027, 2028, or later, given it’s still recruiting talent and building its foundation.
The developers themselves have openly acknowledged the challenges ahead and the lengthy road before launch, but also emphasized their commitment to sharing updates as they shape the game.
Fans’ Biggest Questions Right Now
- Canon status? It’s currently unclear how this story will fit within the modern Star Wars lore. Since the Old Republic era has been mostly covered under “Legends” continuity — not the official Disney canon — fans are eager to know
if this game will adopt new canonical storytelling or lean into nostalgic non-canon elements. - Platforms? Confirmed so far for PC and major consoles; a Switch version hasn’t been announced and is still an open question.
- Connections to KOTOR remakes? Separately, Lucasfilm Games appears to be progressing with remakes of the earlier KOTOR titles, though those projects are independent of Fate of the Old Republic itself.
Final Thoughts: A New Adventure on the Horizon
For fans of Star Wars and deep narrative RPGs, Fate of the Old Republic delivers a thrilling promise: the return of a genre mastermind to the universe that defined early cinematic RPGs, and the chance for a new generation to experience a story shaped by choice, destiny, and the timeless conflict between light and dark. The long wait isn’t over — but there’s now a spark to chase.
(Image credit: Arcanaut Studios)