First announced in the fall of 2021, the remake of BioWare's beloved Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic has hit a major roadblock - and the feeling may be familiar to fans of the franchise. Aspyr, the company leading the game's development, was reportedly unhappy with the direction KOTOR was headed and fired its Art Director and Design Director. Now, the fate of the remake is unsure as KOTOR - Remake has seemingly been delayed indefinitely.
The original Knights of the Old Republic was released nearly twenty years ago, and in the time since it has become one of the most iconic Star Wars video games. BioWare's adaptation of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game presents incredible characters, a dramatic story, and one of gaming's most shocking plot twists, quickly cementing the game as a classic. While it is available on modern platforms, its age resulted in numerous technical issues for players looking to replay or experience it for the first time. As such, the remake's announcement rightfully generated plenty of excitement.
The Star Wars franchise has changed a lot in the past two decades - Knights of the Old Republic was released long before Disney's acquisition of the property and was part of a widespread de-canonization of extended universe content. Recently, the villain Darth Revan may have become Star Wars canon again - appearing in name only - but still sparking hope for KOTOR fans. But the game's delay mirrors recently announced delays to Lucasfilm's Star Wars movies, and fans of both the films and the games have no solid information on what the future may hold.
Star Wars: KOTOR - Remake Mirrors Star Wars Films' Delays
The Star Wars sequel trilogy may have concluded, but the franchise's film presence isn't stopping anytime soon. Numerous movies are in the works, including a mystery project written by Taika Waititi and a Rogue Squadron film directed by Patty Jenkins. Work on these projects, unfortunately, hasn't gone so smoothly. Rogue Squadron, initially slated for a 2023 release, has reportedly been de-prioritized by Disney, and Waititi's film may not even get made. It has become clear that many of the best Star Wars stories aren't tied to the main trilogies, so the uncertainty around these films is disappointing. Knights of the Old Republic's case is merely one more on the pile.
Delays and disruptions now seem to be a significant element for new Star Wars content. Following the conclusion and divisive reception of the sequel trilogy, the franchise may be struggling with something of an identity crisis - odd, for a property so widespread and well known. The best recent Star Wars media is great, but others are very clearly stumbling. Shows like The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi have seen great success, while new films won't arrive until at least 2025.
Ultimately, fans may be impatient for specific games or films, but it's hard to argue that there isn't enough Star Wars content right now. There was a time when the biggest Star Wars media seeing any consistent release was the Clone Wars animated series; before the prequel trilogy, content was even scarcer. The fates of specific projects remain to be seen, but Star Wars isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Between more new animated shows, the upcoming Ahsoka and Lando series, Jedi: Survivor, and future seasons of The Mandalorian, The Bad Batch, and more, Star Wars is dominating as a multimedia franchise. New theatrical releases are exciting. A Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake is exciting. But while fans are waiting, there's plenty to watch and play in the meantime.