KOTOR Remake BioWare Question Gets a Dodgy Response From EA
The announcement of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Remake came without Electronic Arts or BioWare’s names on it, and according to a recent post on Twitter, there’s a good chance the publisher and developer of the original game aren’t involved. Knights of the Old Republic is one of the games that put BioWare on many gamers’ radars, as it was praised for its ingenuity and storytelling. However, the game hasn’t aged very well since its initial release in 2003.
The PlayStation Showcase 2021 started with the KOTOR remake, and announced that the game would be coming to PS5. In fact, it’s a timed console exclusive, so while it will release on PC when it comes out on PS5, Xbox owners are expected to have to wait for an undisclosed amount of time after launch. Immediately, expectations are high for Knights of the Old Republic - Remake, as the original game contributed to a large shift in the way video game narratives were handled, especially when it came to developing branching paths and choices in games, something BioWare has become rather prolific at.
However, with BioWare’s storytelling footprint all over KOTOR already, it seems it will be passing the game off to Aspyr Media for the remake. Geoff Keighley took to Twitter on Friday to inform the gaming community that he contacted BioWare and EA to inquire about their involvement in the remake, and the answer he received led to him saying, “So I guess that’s a no?” An EA Spokeswoman responded to him with a very cryptic, business-speak response that states EA is “proud of [its] long-standing collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, which will continue for years to come.” The message goes on to list some of the Star Wars games EA is responsible for before ending with: “We love Star Wars and look forward to creating more exciting experiences for players to enjoy.”
There’s no doubt Aspyr is capable of developing Star Wars games, as it has a long history of porting them to Mac and other platforms, including the original Knights of the Old Republic. However, the bigger question is why BioWare and EA have been left out of the remake for a game they built from the ground up. One explanation could be BioWare’s recent misfires, including Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, which both were announced with a lot of promise and intrigue, only to become commercial flops. The studio also could have a lot on its plate with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition having just been released, ongoing development of Dragon Age 4, and the beginning of the next Mass Effect game. However, it’s worth noting that so-called Mass Effect 4 is not in full development, and it likely won’t be for at least a year, so if BioWare is too busy for the KOTOR remake, then there may be some unannounced projects from the studio.
Regardless, a new developer may be what Knights of the Old Republic - Remake needs. There’s no question that just about every part of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic needs a touch-up, whether it be outdated gameplay or technical issues. A fresh development cycle from a different studio outside of EA could help throw a modern spin on the game to ensure the story of KOTOR is appreciated for many more years to come.
Source: Geoff Keighley/Twitter