Embracer CEO has no comment on Star Wars KOTOR remake
The Embracer Group CEO issued a firm “no comment” when asked about the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The refusal to provide a substantial response dampens the hopes of longtime fans who were excited at the prospect of playing a modern interpretation of Knights of the Old Republic, a game as beloved as it was influential.
Developed by BioWare, the creators of the Mass Effect franchise, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was a turn-based combat RPG originally released in July 2003. Players chose from three character classes as themselves and a group of Jedi, scoundrels, and androids tried to defeat the evil Darth Malak. KOTOR was set in the Mandalorian Wars, roughly 4,000 years before the events of the previous film trilogy, a time when the Jedi were a large and prosperous legion of galactic peacekeepers.
A remake of the original KOTOR was announced during a PlayStation Showcase event in September 2021 with a brief but compelling trailer depicting Darth Malak, in all his modern graphical glory, powering up his glowing red lightsaber blade while shrouded in darkness. Recently, on his Game Mess podcast, trusted industry insider Jeff Grubb said that he believes, based on his sources, that the KOTOR remake may never see a release. During an investor call, Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors made no attempt to calm fans worried about the status of the remake.
When asked about the status of the KOTOR remake, Wingefors declined to comment shortly after sarcastically hinting that questions about a KOTOR remake were his favorite. Aspyr Media, the developer responsible for the mobile ports of KOTOR and its sequel, was tasked with developing the remake. Just a year after the announcement, Embracer transferred the project from Aspyr to its parent company Saber Interactive, an Embracer-owned developer based in South Florida. Saber Interactive itself has several studios around the world. The remake is now in the hands of a Saber Interactive studio in Eastern Europe. There is currently no timeline for the release of the KOTOR remake.
An August 2022 report citing Saber Interactive sources suggests that at the time, at least two more years of active development were needed. Whether this is still the case remains to be seen. Fans wanting to see KOTOR’s legendary history remade with modern technology and evolved game development sensibilities may have to wait much longer before hearing another update on its status, let alone seeing a release.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is in development for PC and PS5.
MORE: Dead Island 2’s development hell gives hope to KOTOR remake fans