Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3has been rumored for a long time now, with the prospect of a third game in the franchise sitting at the top of many fans' most-wanted lists. For years, fans have been hoping for remakes of the original games or a new sequel. The last game was released in 2004 and since thenStar Warsfans have been clamoring for a new title in the beloved franchise. There has been a lot of speculation regarding which developer could take on a newKnights of the Old Republicproject, and what a new game might even constitute.
The original two games are highly regarded as some of the bestStar Warsgames ever to be made, in addition to being excellent role-playing stories. Many fans considerKOTOR 1and2to be some of the best RPGs of the 2000s,so a new title in the franchise would have some lofty expectations to live up to. With the news that Ubisoft is working on a large, open-worldStar Warsgame and the success ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,it might be time for another newKOTORproject. Lucasfilm Games seems determined to renew the appeal ofStar Warsin the gaming industry, and based on the rumors circulating,KOTORmight be a part of that resurgence.
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BioWare and EA Might Not Be Making KOTOR 3
One of the most notable rumors that have been doing the rounds for some time now, is that BioWare and EA will not be developing the newKOTORgame. Electronic Arts previously had an exclusivity deal for the franchise, but this has seemingly ended now withStar Warspartnering with Ubisoftfor an open world title. This lends credibility to the long-standing rumor that BioWare won’t be developing the new game. It has been speculated that the company won’t be making it for some time now, but a post from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier in December 2020 suggested that it would be developed by another team that isn’t affiliated with EA.
As for which developer, that part so far remains a mystery. Industry insider Shinobi602 claimed that it’s not a big mystery as to who the developer is, rather a household name that some gamers may not be aware of. Another insider, a podcast called Bespin Bulletin, claims to know that the game is in development but didn’t seem to know the name of the studio. ForStar Warsfans, the developer is an important choice, and with nothing confirmed, gamers can only speculate as to what team willdevelop the nextKnights of the Old Republic.
Aspyr Media
In-line with Jason Schreier’s comments about an elusive developer making the newKOTOR,one of the most prevalent rumors has been Aspyr Media. While not a household name for a lot of gamers, Aspyr Media has crafted an extensive portfolio porting games to new platforms. Some of its most noteworthy work has been portingStar Warsgames, including bringingKnights of the Old Republic 2 - The Sith Lordsto mobile devices.
While the company has exclusively worked on porting games throughout its history, there is some evidence that might imply a link toKOTOR,or at least aStar WarsIP. The developer has ported aKOTORgame in recent months which suggests that the franchise is present in the consciousness of major stakeholders.
What makes the Aspyr Media rumors more interesting is that the studio was recently bought out by a company calledEmbracer Group, formerly known as THQ Nordic. Embracer Group has gone on the record during a presentation to say that Aspyr Media is working on a AAA game with a budget of $70 million. During this same presentation, it was mentioned that the project relates to a licensed property.
To add more fuel to the fire, Aspyr Media recently hired talent for this new project and brought on board several former industry veterans, many of whom were once part of BioWare and even worked on theStar Warsfranchise. While rumors should be taken with a pinch of salt, members of the gaming community can’t help but wonder if this project relates toKOTOR.
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KOTOR 3, Remakes, or Something Else?
There are some hard to ignore rumors that aKnights of the Old Republicproject is in the works, but that it’s notKOTOR 3. Alongside gossip that a brand new sequel is in development, persistent rumors state that remakes of the original two games are being made. Based on what has been reported,the new versions ofKOTORandKOTOR 2would be retooled for the newStar Warscanon. This could prove to be divisive among the fanbase, while being an effective way to reintroduce the series for a new generation of fans. A quasi-reboot and remake might fit in with the profile of Aspyr Media’s confirmed AAA project.
Further rumors, albeit unsubstantiated ones, suggest that the newKOTORproject may not be set in The Old Republic at all. The speculation suggests that the new title could be set in the newHigh Republic era ofStar Wars.This could make sense as this is being pushed as not just a new era for theStar Warsuniverse, but as a large project encompassing several forms of media. Lucasfilm Games look set to expand its presence in the coming years, and as part of a new lineup of games, a High Republic-set game could draw more attention to the new majorStar Warssetting.
While signs could indicate a revival of the much-lovedKOTORfranchise, it’s often in the best interest of gaming fans to take rumors with a pinch of salt. There hasn’t been any official confirmation from Lucasfilm Games and as such, there isn’t anything in the pipeline to get excited about as of yet.Star Warsfans will undoubtedly be keeping an eye out for official information for a new game.Knights of the Old Republic 3could be challenging to makedue to the reputation of the originals and the years that have passed. Any developer working on the title has high expectations to meet.
A newStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicgame is rumored to be currently in development.
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