Exciting News for Star Wars Fans: Two New Games Confirmed and Ubisoft's Outlaws Points to a Promising Future
Positive reception for Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws could revive troubled projects Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars Eclipse, fueling hopes for their successful development
Despite previous rumors suggesting otherwise, it seems that there is still progress being made on two Star Wars games: the Knights of the Old Republic remake and Eclipse. Speculation and hearsay had indicated that both of these games were facing potential cancellation due to internal issues. However, the positive reception to Ubisoft's forthcoming Star Wars Outlaws game could potentially inject new life into the development of these games.
Recently announced by Ubisoft, Star Wars Outlaws is scheduled for release in 2024. The game is set in the time period between Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi. The reaction to the announcement of this upcoming game has been largely favorable, serving as a reminder to developers that there is still a strong interest and market for the Star Wars brand. It is hoped that this positive reception will have a beneficial impact on the progress of both the Knights of the Old Republic remake and Eclipse.
The Troubled Production of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars Eclipse
The KOTOR remake, which was initially announced in 2021, seemed to face production issues, leading to minimal updates and ongoing rumors. However, in August 2022, a new studio took charge of the project. Regrettably, this transition did not bring any new announcements regarding the upcoming game. When questioned about it, the CEO of Embracer Group declined to comment on the situation.
Similarly, another Star Wars video game project, Star Wars Eclipse, encountered development difficulties shortly after its announcement. Despite the grand unveiling trailer, the developer remained silent on the matter, causing concerns. Nevertheless, both projects are reportedly still in active development, and recent actions within the franchise may contribute to accelerating their progress.
How The Reception To Star Wars Outlaws Can Drive KOTOR and Eclipse
With the acquisition of LucasFilm in 2012, Disney took over the reins and subsequently shut down LucasArts. The license to develop Star Wars games was then acquired by Electronic Arts, resulting in a significant decrease in the production of such games. Only two Star Wars Battlefront games were released, both of which received a lukewarm response, largely due to criticisms surrounding the inclusion of loot boxes in the sequel.
However, in 2019, EA launched Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which received positive reviews and achieved strong sales. Its sequel also garnered favorable reviews and performed well in terms of sales. In a recent announcement, Ubisoft unveiled their plans to develop an open-world Star Wars game, which was met with a highly positive reception. With competition from other studios intensifying, it is likely that the developers behind the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake and Star Wars Eclipse will be motivated to enhance their efforts in order to deliver even more impressive and captivating games, ensuring they receive the attention they deserve.
The impact of the reception to Star Wars Outlaws on the development of the remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic or Star Wars Eclipse remains uncertain. A positive reception could potentially set higher expectations for future installments of the franchise. Nevertheless, it is hoped that the success of Star Wars Outlaws will motivate the publishers and developers of the aforementioned titles to prioritize production and create a truly unforgettable experience. Star Wars Outlaws is scheduled for release in 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
