Star Wars is seemingly in a new renaissance. Games and other extended media like the various Disney+ shows have been more popular ever, meeting both critical and fan standards in a big way. One rumored project that's drawn a lot of attention online has been a potential remake of Knights of the Old Republic. The original and its sequel still sit amongst the most popular games the franchise has ever created, and the current climate could not be better for a remake. That being said, the window for an official announcement of a KOTOR is getting smaller so it might be the perfect time for the game to make an appearance.
One of the biggest news to come for Star Wars games in recent memory has been the expiration of EA's exclusive license to the franchise. This means that for the first time in a decade, other publishers will be able to take a shot at adapting the classic sci-fi series. Notably, a Ubisoft-made Star Wars game was announced, albeit without much detail. This was surprising not so much in and of itself, but because it came before any mention of Jedi: Fallen Order 2. The latter will be the follow-up to the most critically lauded Star Wars game since KOTOR. So, if EA really wants to end its exclusivity on a strong note, the KOTOR remake could be its best bet.
Now Might Be the Best Time to Announce the KOTOR Remake
Games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have done a lot to inspire confidence in what can come from single-player Star Wars games in the modern era. The game was lauded for blending a level of production that felt on par with many of the franchise's major releases with gameplay that fit into the modern space. Not shying away fromthe brutal difficulty of the Soulsborne format while embracing the character-driven story of the KOTOR franchise proved very successful. But the future of Star Wars games is likely looking to embrace all of its fans.
Remakes and remasters are inarguably popular right now. A mix of nostalgia and modern game mechanics and expectations about graphical fidelity has come together in recent years. A KOTOR remake would be coming in the wake of successful projects like FF7 Remake, which proved that old-school mechanics can be updated to modern expectations of what an action RPG should look like. FF7 Remake sits as a shining example of what the KOTOR remake could achieve. Many classic fans will be reticent about any changes to the turn-based mechanics that KOTOR exemplified. But modern remakes and remasters have shown that satisfying even the most veteran fans is definitely possible.
With a slew of Star Wars games unconfirmed, but likely on the way after the loss of EA's exclusivity, now is likely a great time to announce such a prestigious remake. It's unlikely that EA doesn't appreciate how lucrative the Star Wars brand can be, so it should aspire to go out with a bang. Excitement about Jedi: Fallen Order 2 is already very high, but closing out with a project as prestigious as a KOTOR remake could help cement EA as the premier publisher for Star Wars content. The current gaming climate is very amenable to quality remakes of classic IPs as FF7 Remake and other projects have shown. EA would be wise to go ahead and announce such a lofty project sooner rather than later. Again this is all based on whether the rumors about a KOTOR remake are true or not. But if they are true, EA might do themselves a big favor by announcing the Knights of the Old Republic remake soon, because now might be the best possible time.
A Knights of the Old Republic remake is rumored to be in development.