Jedi Padawans jumped for joy two years ago when Sony unveiled a teaser for the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake intended for the PlayStation 5 at the September 2021 PlayStation Showcase. But two years later, this flame has all but been snuffed out as devotees observed Sony’s erasure of tweets regarding the game and the sudden disappearance of the teaser trailer from its YouTube channel.
Early indications of this removal emerged around September 28 when the trailer’s absence from PlayStation’s YouTube channel became a talking point. Further evidence mounted when a Twitter user highlighted that Sony’s promotional tweets from their 2021 Showcase had vanished, leaving only a stray tweet referencing multiple games.
Now, many ponder whether this much-awaited KOTOR remake, initially slated as a PS5 exclusive, is merely a victim of an unannounced digital housekeeping or indicative of deeper issues, possibly even its cancellation. While both PlayStation and its parent publisher, Embracer, remain tight-lipped, one can’t help but consider the challenges plaguing the project. Notably, Embracer’s extensive budget cuts and the recent troubles with its other ventures could be affecting the game’s future.
Using the Wayback Machine, you can see the tweet did exist. last snapshot taken was in 2022. https://t.co/QuZ0Zavuch
— Crusader II Elessar (@Crusader3456) September 28, 2023
Last year, Bloomberg unveiled that developers had invested heavily in a proof-of-concept demo that unfortunately was not well-received upon review. This setback led to a change in direction, with key team members dropping out and the lead development role being passed from Texas-based Aspyr to Saber Interactive in Europe. However, dark clouds then began gathering over Embracer itself as they enacted widespread budget cuts, notably shutting down entire studios as well as backing away from projects. Their financial decisions, many speculate, stem from a missed $2 billion investment opportunity from Saudi Arabia. This narrative of uncertainty was compounded when Aspyr opted not to proceed with a promised DLC pack for its Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 remaster, for which they’re now being sued.
There’s tremendous potential for success for a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, particularly in an era of high demand for more Star Wars content. Such a project would not only be a treasure trove for publishers but also a testament to a studio’s prowess. But the fate of this endeavor remains veiled in ambiguity.
Fans, clinging to the memories of the iconic 2003 game developed by BioWare and its 2004 sequel crafted by Obsidian Entertainment, still have yet to lose hope, much like how Luke Skywalker believed that his father, Darth Vader, could still be redeemed. A shared sentiment is that Embracer’s challenges and a possible lack of coordination between Sony and Aspyr might be derailing this project. It might be possible that Aspyr could have done justice to the remake if given the necessary amount of time and resources.
As it stands, Embracer has bigger things to worry about than “just” a remake of an all-time classic. While it’s a shame it might not have been able to handle the responsibility of such an undertaking, it’s important to note the larger finances at play here.
At the moment, Embracer Group is at the brink of closing down several studios following numerous setbacks. A series of layoffs, management changes, and game support withdrawals paint a turbulent picture. Given that the company still has yet to weather the storm, things are expected to go from bad to worse still.
While fingers point at Saber’s perceived mismanagement, Lucasfilm’s potential intervention looms as a beacon of hope. Lucasfilm’s recent timeline release indicates a vested interest in the Old Republic era, suggesting they might take a more hands-on approach to ensure the remake’s realization.
Ultimately, as the saga of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake unfolds, audiences across the globe await an official word, hoping that their journey to a galaxy far, far away isn’t thwarted.
