In a San Francisco press event, LucasArts and BioWare officially announced that they are collaborating on a Knights of the Old Republic MMO. The long rumored title was mentioned (though not confirmed) by EA CEO John Riccitiello earlier this year, though BioWare Austin's Gordon Walton was unwilling to disclose the title he had been working on more recently to GameDaily BIZ.
"Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the most critically acclaimed Star Wars game in LucasArts history and a preeminent example of our company's interactive storytelling heritage," said Darrell Rodriguez, President of LucasArts. "For a long time, we've wanted to return to the franchise in a grand way, and we felt that the best setting for it was an online world that would allow millions of people to participate in the experience together. We knew that the developer capable of working with us to deliver an engrossing story with a fully-realized online world was BioWare."
Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 1 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 2 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 3 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 4 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 5 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 6 of 7)
This Star Wars-themed online role-playing lets players choose their own moral patch, joining either the Galactic Empire (the good guys) or the Sith Empire (the bad guys). Travel across dozens of worlds completing missions, fighting in large-scale battles and, ultimately, learn how to live with the consequences of your actions. (Screenshot 7 of 7)
Officially titled Star Wars: The Old Republic, the game is set 300 years after the events in Knights of the Old Republic. Unlike Star Wars Galaxies, the game will focus on moral choices, like most BioWare titles, and not be about "a day-in-the-life of Star Wars."
"Star Wars: The Old Republic is set roughly 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, a timeframe that is completely unexplored in the lore," added Dr. Greg Zeschuk, Co-Founder and Vice President Development Operations, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. "BioWare has been able to add to the Star Wars history in developing the game's story and has created an overarching narrative that players can enjoy, regardless of their play style. Our goal is to offer players an emotionally rewarding experience that combines the traditional elements of MMO gameplay with innovations in story and character development."
Many veterans of Knights of the Old Republic and BioWare in general will be working on Star Wars: The Old Republic, along with a dozen writers. Specific story-lines are being crafted for players depending on their place in the world, be they smugglers, bounty hunters or Jedi in the overarching conflict between the Republic and the Empire.
While players will naturally be able to cooperate with each other, they will also have a chance to have NPC companions. More than simple backup, these companions will also provide dialog and alternative viewpoints to situations, much like most BioWare games.
"Traditionally, massively multiplayer online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars - combat, exploration and character progression," said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder and General Manager/CEO of BioWare and General Manager/Vice President of Electronic Arts. "In Star Wars: The Old Republic, we're fusing BioWare's heritage of critically-acclaimed storytelling with the amazing pedigree of Lucasfilm and LucasArts, and adding a brand-new fourth pillar to the equation – story. At the same time, we will still deliver all the fun features and activities that fans have come to expect in a triple-A massively multiplayer online game. To top it all off, Star Wars: The Old Republic is set in a very exciting, dynamic period in the Star Wars universe."
Star Wars: The Old Republic is being developed for PC and does not have a confirmed release date.
Thanks to IGN for certain gameplay details.
Reader Comments (11)
I hope that everyone realizes that, since this game will be practically open-ended, the storyline cannot be considered canon to the EU.
this looks cool,but i was kinda hopeing for another single player
no the graphics dont look awfull,they look like kotor!
this is crap... having the game set so long into the future is going to take away from the main story that the KOTOR series had in the backround....the threat from the unknown region.....i am severely disappointed that this element of the game is going to disappear from the series....i may not even buy the game if it going to pull away from what has made it the Best game in Star Wars arsenal!!!!!!!
Ok guys overthehill411 is right this game is just getting started every Kotor Game has simply rocked even getting game of the year. I played SW Galaxies and it wasn't bad before all the updates. I know because I was there that people WANT to be Jedi (well the majority) this is why they are doing KOTOR online is because people read SW books and watch the movies because they love the struggle of Sith and Jedi. I can tell you if they are I'm sure feeding off partly from fan suggestion because Forums have always been littered with people saying they'd love to see their favorite Star Wars game become a MMOG especially if it's Bioware we can be sure that it won't be a crappy game. Most all Bioware games are Huge Successes because of the Story. One thing that I'd hope they do is keep true to the Universe like For instance Sith become Powerful faster, But anyone who is immersed in the Star Wars Galaxy knows the most powerful Jedi ever is Luke Skywalker. I just hope that Falling to the Darkside doesn't amount to just Respecing your character I hope it involves things you do and choices you make that make you slowly fall... with even the possibility that people can go to a Sith academy just like the Jedi Academy like in the Era before Darth Bane. Those are the things I love for. Also I look for the Role Playing Experience that the people had on Star Wars galaxies because Even though WoW is a cool game no one I know RP's when you immerse yourself into Character it makes it so much more fun to play a Game like Star Wars .. holding Jedi Council meetings may sound dumb if you've never done it... or Turning to the Darkside and Fighting your Old guildmates that stuff rocks.. I imagine that they'll take all the good stuff from SWG and make it better with KOTOR online and take away all the crap because after all it's Bioware we're talking about we can't expect anything less than a Top tier title that I bet competes highly with even WoW, which no one has done yet... You'll be surprised at how many people are hardcore Star wars fans... and no just People who are "geeks" but a whole variety of people like my friend who's a cop in Florida. Make sure you Check this game out I'd recomend it before even seeing the Cinematic just because Bioware is Developing it!
Is this game battletoads?
I think this should be developed for Playstation 3, ps3 needs an mmo, and the companies would make big bucks if they made it for the consoled of ps3 and xbox360. Those consoles both have online, so I believe this is possible, so someone should tell the creators to get in touch with some ps3 company, and try to make the game for the playstation 3 console
David, you have lost all blast privelages in my book.
The only reason the graphics look bad is because that is taken from the Alpha version of the game. That means this is extremellllllllllllly early in the development cycle and yeah, it's gonna look ugly. Don't worry, things will get better with the Beta and the release. They did the same thing with Starcraft. and yeah, but ever since the massive update Galaxies is ****. This game looks to be better and bigger than that game, and will make it obsolete. This game is in fact bigger than every other Bioware game including the expansions.
the graphics look awful