This week’s announcement that Embracer are promoting off Saber Interactive to new firm Beacon Interactive has solid additional doubt over the way forward for considered one of Embracer’s larger tasks, the much-delayed Star Wars: Knights Of The Previous Republic remake. Whereas Embracer have but to truly state this out loud, it sounds just like the KOTOR remake will probably be a “joint venture” between Saber and Embracer. It additionally most likely will not be out within the subsequent 12 months. Given the venture’s repeated disruptions and delays, I believe many people will accept the sport popping out in any respect.
Embracer will retain possession of Aspyr Media, the studio initially accountable for the KOTOR remake, however the sport is “going with Saber”, in accordance to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who broke the information that Embracer had been promoting Saber earlier within the month. Embracer have mentioned, nonetheless,
that their retained “joint” belongings from the deal embrace “a beforehand introduced AAA sport based mostly on a significant license” which may nicely be the Star Wars sport.
In a convention name discussing the deal (by way of VGC), Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors was requested whether or not the latter licensed venture would come out within the subsequent 12 months. “No, I feel that form of sport wants some deep love and respect, so with out giving full color, I feel it is a while left till that’s launched,” he mentioned. (Embracer haven’t got a superb observe report for displaying something “deep love and respect” – the corporate are within the strategy of shedding a chunky proportion of their workforce, closing studios and cancelling video games as they try and recoup their huge money owed.)
One other caller requested whether or not the sport is, in truth, the KOTOR remake, however Wingefors mentioned he had no additional feedback on the topic.
Introduced in September 2021, the KOTOR remake was delayed indefinitely in July 2022, reportedly following a poor reception to an inside demo. In November 2023, Schreier claimed that the sport continues to be in growth, albeit with a really small staff.
Embracer’s cope with Beacon covers 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks, New World Interactive, Nimble Big, Mad Head, Digic, Fractured Byte and PR company Sandbox Methods, in addition to Metro builders 4A Video games and Pinball FX maker Zen Studios by way of choices. Beacon will take cost of 38 on-going sport growth tasks in complete. Embracer are protecting Tripwire, Beamdog, Tuxedo Labs, Demiurge, Shiver, Snapshot Video games and 34BigThings in addition to Aspyr, plus 14 introduced and unannounced video games in various levels of growth, amongst them the subsequent main launch from Metro builders 4A Video games, Killing Ground 3 and Teardown.
The unique KOTOR – which you could find on GOG for relatively lower than the worth of a ticket to Alderaan – stays considered one of our favorite PC Star Wars video games.