Only a Sith deals in development hell – at least, that’s been the case so far for the tensely-awaited Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake. It’s been three years since the cult classic’s revival for PS5 was announced, switching developers in the process. Though we feared the worst for the embattled KOTOR remake after current dev Saber Interactive’s divorce from Embracer Group, there’s good news for worried fans.
“It’s clear and it’s obvious that we’re working on this,” Saber CEO Matthew Karch tells IGN in a fresh interview. “It’s been in the press numerous times. What I will say is that the game is alive and well, and we’re dedicated to making sure we exceed consumer expectations.” Though that seems to be all that Karch has to say about KOTOR for now, it’s a huge relief that the Star Wars game is still cooking away in a Mustafarian oven – especially after we lost out on Respawn’s Mandalorian game earlier this year.
Saber took on the development of the KOTOR remake from Aspyr – then also operating under the Embracer banner – back in 2022. Aspyr was originally highlighted as the lead developer of the project during a 2021 PlayStation Showcase teaser for the game. The KOTOR remake was added to the list of timed PS5 exclusives at the time, though it’s unclear if this will remain the case now Saber’s fully at the helm.
Ever since its initial announcement, the KOTOR remake has been shrouded in mystery, largely due to Embracer’s incompetence. After a long period of ‘please don’t ask us about KOTOR,’ in November 2023, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that it was, miraculously, still in the works – something now corroborated by IGN’s report.
As for Saber itself, there’s perhaps a larger measure of hope now it has escaped Embracer. Having been sold off to Beacon Interactive – a private investment entity controlled by Karch himself – in a deal worth up to $500 million at the end of February this year, the company’s fate is now more firmly within its own hands. Hopefully, then, there’ll be more to report on one of the most anticipated new PS5 games (and now possibly new Xbox games) sooner rather than later.
For more of the latest news on the best PS5 games and best Xbox games, check out what we expect to see at the rumored May PlayStation Showcase. Alternatively, if you’re Xbox-inclined, then peep April’s Xbox Game Pass lineup.