The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) remake has been a long-awaited project, but it has been a tumultuous journey. The initial version, developed by Aspyr and planned as a PlayStation exclusive, was cancelled due to a vertical slice that disappointed Sony. This cancellation was a bittersweet moment for fans, as it meant that the game was not ready for release and that the studio was struggling to meet expectations. However, it also meant that the project was not entirely lost, as Saber Interactive’s Mad Head Games took over the development. The new version of the game is still in the works, but it has been a slow process, with development materials from the cancelled version still surfacing from time to time. One such material is a work-in-progress cinematic that gives an interesting, albeit brief, look at the game’s opening story. The cinematic introduces two familiar characters, Captain Carth Onasi and Trask Ulgo, and shows the player character and Trask in the aftermath of a battle in a hallway. The sequence ends with the objective to find Onasi, which appears to transition directly into gameplay. One interesting detail is that the player’s character is fully voiced, a radical departure from the original 2003 title. This aligns with a previous report from the YouTube channel ‘100% Star Wars’, which claimed the remake featured a voiced protagonist, alongside other juicy details like combat gameplay similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The fact that most of the materials that have surfaced about the game tend to be about its very beginning suggests that this part of the game has received the most work during Aspyr’s tenure. However, the cancellation of the first version of the game was a setback for the franchise, and it remains to be seen if the new version will live up to the original’s legacy. Personally, I think that the fact that the game is still in development is a good sign, and I am hopeful that the new version will be a success. The franchise has several projects on the way, including Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a brand-new single-player RPG helmed by original KOTOR and Mass Effect director Casey Hudson. Hudson has reaffirmed that players can expect the game to release before 2030, emphasizing a desire to keep its scope focused rather than over-inflated. In my opinion, this is a smart move, as it will allow the game to be a success without over-promising. The Star Wars franchise is a beloved one, and it is important to keep the scope of the game focused and manageable. The journey of the KOTOR remake has been a rocky one, but it is a journey that is worth taking. The franchise has a lot of potential, and I am hopeful that the new version of the game will be a success. The fact that the game is still in development is a good sign, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the Star Wars franchise.
