Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic dev counters "2030" release date fears, but admits there are "many challenges ahead"

In a night packed with big reveals, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic has to be up there among my most anticipated Game Awards announcements. How could it not be? It harkens back to my youth not only as a fan of the movies, but also to many hours spent with various experiences that let me dive deeper into that world. On the spectrum of the best Star Wars games, Knights of the Old Republic sits right at the top end. Not only is it coming back, but it's in the care of former KOTOR (and Mass Effect) director Casey Hudson, and he's just reassured us that we won't be waiting for a release date that's far, far away.

Built by Hudson's new team at Arcanaut Studios in Edmonton, Canada, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic returns to its roots as a "narrative-driven single-player action RPG where you step into the role of a Force user on a journey through a galaxy on the edge of rebirth." Hudson stresses that this is "a completely new and different story," meaning it's not a direct sequel or continuation of KOTOR. However, Lucasfilm Games GM Douglas Reilly notes that "it is being built by people who helped shape that legacy."

Hudson reveals that he's actually been in regular contact with Lucasfilm over the past two decades, always interested in the possibility of returning to the Star Wars universe. He notes that "a project like this is a huge commitment for everyone involved, so it took the right conditions to get everything to line up." His co-founding of Arcanaut Studios was the spark that led to fresh conversations and, ultimately, to the announcement that we watched at The Game Awards this week.

Naturally, that means that Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is still in the relatively early stages of development, and Hudson admits that there are "many challenges ahead." That has quickly led to whispers about when we'll actually get to pick up a lightsaber and stride into Arcanaut's creation. In response, Hudson calms fears slightly: "Don't worry about the 'not till 2030' rumors," he writes via social media platform X, "Game will be out before then. I'm not getting any younger!"

Given that 2025 is all but over, that means we're due to see Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic launch some time in the next four years. I'd be surprised if it got here before at least 2028, if not 2029 - but, as I always say, I'd rather the developer took the time to get it right than tried to rush something out. That's even more true with such a beloved returning name as this one.

Nevertheless, it sounds like the game will be very true to the spirit of KOTOR. Hudson specifically points to "fundamental pillars of the franchise such as innovative storytelling, memorable characters, challenging gameplay, and immersive agency in the Star Wars galaxy." Reilly adds, "We have been keenly aware our fans have been wanting to revisit this player fantasy."

"When we were making KOTOR, we were just focused on making the best game we could," and had no idea it would resonate the way it did," Hudson concludes. "Seeing the impact it made with players, and how that connection has endured for more than 20 years, is humbling and inspiring." I've waited this long for a new single-player Old Republic game; I can manage to hold on for a few extra years.