Star Wars: The Old Republic
News, coverage and analysis tracking Star Wars: The Old Republic across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Massively OP Podcast Episode 585: BioWare dies, SWTOR lives on
The Massively OP Podcast episode 585 discusses the closure of BioWare by EA, alongside updates on MapleStory Classic World, Dragon Nest Classic, WoW Forever, Elder Scrolls Online Season 2, and EverQuest Legends. The hosts also explore the concept of offline MMOs and spotlight Tower Unite.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for BioWare
Electronic Arts has officially shut down the legendary studio BioWare, laying off 400 employees in the process. This move has been met with significant criticism, highlighting concerns about venture capital and corporate practices in the gaming industry. Several other MMOs and studios also saw news this week, including updates on MapleStory Classic World, Chronicles of Elyria, and the closure of Zenith.
Farewell BioWare, you inspired so many of us, and you deserved so much better than this
BioWare, the acclaimed developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur's Gate, has been closed by Electronic Arts. The studio's closure follows a history of critical and commercial disappointments like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, despite its significant contributions to the RPG genre. The article laments the loss of a studio that shaped industry trends and created deeply emotional experiences for players.
Game dev plans affected by Electronic Arts firings take clearer shape as fans and devs mourn BioWare’s end
Electronic Arts has laid off hundreds of employees and shut down the legendary BioWare studio, impacting various game development projects including The Sims and Star Wars titles. The decision has drawn strong criticism from former employees and industry figures, with many lamenting the loss of BioWare's legacy in RPGs like Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer calls out BioWare for snubbing the MMO
Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer Caitlin Sullivan Kelly expressed disappointment that BioWare's announcement of its closure did not mention the long-running MMO. While BioWare did not include SWTOR in its list of notable franchises, the article argues it was not a snub, as SWTOR is now a Broadsword game and the list focused on franchises rather than individual titles.
BG3's Swen Vincke's response to BioWare's closure breaks my heart. "BioWare won't show up anymore when discussing upcoming RPGs."
Electronic Arts has confirmed the closure of BioWare, the acclaimed studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, resulting in approximately 400 layoffs. This decision, attributed partly to the commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, has been met with widespread shock and sadness across the industry, with figures like Larian CEO Swen Vincke expressing deep regret over the loss of a pioneering RPG developer.
BioWare shut down and new Mass Effect cancelled two months after EA sale
Legendary RPG developer BioWare is closing down, and early development on the next Mass Effect project has been cancelled, following Electronic Arts' sale to private investors. The closure results in approximately 50 layoffs at BioWare and 400 across EA, attributed to the significant debt incurred from the acquisition. This move marks the end of an era for a studio known for narrative-driven titles like Baldur's Gate and Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic.
Star Wars: The Old Republic prepares to release inactive character names next month
Broadsword is releasing a large batch of inactive character names for Star Wars: The Old Republic next month as part of its 15th anniversary. Players will have an opportunity to claim these names, with a consumable item available in the store to assist. Accounts with active subscribers or characters logged in since January 1st will have their names protected.
The MOP Up: Jagex prepares to migrate all of its legacy RuneScape accounts
Jagex is preparing to migrate all legacy RuneScape accounts to Jagex Accounts on November 17th, 2026, and will also release a MacOS Silicon launcher. The article also rounds up other recent MMO news, including updates for Elder Scrolls Online, Ultima Online, Trove, Helldivers II, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Ace Combat 8, World of Warcraft, PUBG Battlegrounds, and The Finals.
If this is the best year for Star Wars games it's not for the reason you think - Reader’s Feature
A reader's feature argues that 2026 is shaping up to be a standout year for Star Wars games, not due to big-budget titles, but because of a diverse range of smaller experiences and community-driven content. Games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer and PowerWash Simulator 2's expansion, alongside ongoing support for Star Wars: The Old Republic and community mods for Star Wars: Battlefront II, contribute to a feeling of a lived-in galaxy.
Video games are reigniting my love for Star Wars
Video games are currently the strongest medium for revitalizing the Star Wars franchise's narrative, offering fresh stories and characters that reignite passion. Titles like Star Wars Zero Company and Star Wars: Galactic Racer showcase the value of narrative writers by exploring new avenues within familiar eras and surprising players with compelling campaigns.
WoW: Forever has a new kind of ban to deal with real money trading
Blizzard Entertainment has introduced a new 'Temporary Economy Hold' system in World of Warcraft to combat real money trading (RMT) and gold buying. Accounts suspected of RMT will face restricted access to trade, mail, and auction house functions. This measure aims to stabilize the game's economy, which is particularly important for persistent MMOs without expansion resets, and prevent issues seen in games like Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Star Wars The Old Republic talks up its Masters of the Force and DirectX 12 updates
Broadsword provided an update on the upcoming Masters of the Force update for Star Wars: The Old Republic, detailing features like the Galaxy in Chaos storyline, Ryloth, new operations, and a level cap increase to 85. The studio also discussed progress on the game's move to DirectX 12, with the UI ported and further steps including shader updates and character customization. Phase five of the update is now available on the Public Test Server.
The MOP Up: Dune Awakening nets one million new players from its console launch
Funcom reported that Dune Awakening has attracted over one million new players following its console launch, with the game currently on sale on Steam. The article also rounds up other smaller MMO news, including updates for Valheim, Lord of the Rings Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Warhammer 40K: Darktide, and Satisfactory, alongside a cease-and-desist for a Tera Classic rogue server and new Warcraft action figures.
The Daily Grind: What’s your reason for not playing an MMO you want to like?
This article discusses why players sometimes choose not to engage with MMORPGs they might otherwise enjoy. It uses examples like Warframe and Star Wars: The Old Republic to illustrate how core game mechanics or the absence of specific community features can be dealbreakers for individual players.
Star Wars Zero Company Has Sold Through 1 Million Units in Its First Month – Rumor
Star Wars Zero Company has reportedly sold over 1 million units across all platforms in its first month, generating an estimated $50 million in revenue. PC accounted for the majority of sales, with North America and Europe being the primary markets. The article also notes that some employees at developer Bit Reactor were furloughed ahead of launch.
WRUP: Here are the items that you have gotten mustard stains on edition
This week's 'What Are You Playing' roundup features community and staff discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include City of Heroes, Lord of the Rings Online, Palia, The Division 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars Reforged, Eternal Strands, and World of Warcraft. A bonus question asks about preferred fruits, with responses ranging from oranges to coconuts.
Star Wars The Old Republic characters bugged by Rishi will finally be rescued today
Broadsword is releasing an update for Star Wars The Old Republic today to fix a bug that caused players' seasonal progression to reset to level 1 after traveling to or from the Rishi planet or stronghold. The patch will restore impacted characters to their state before entering Rishi, reimburse spent Cartel Coins, and return lost items. Additional fixes include issues with Rass Ordo's droid abilities, Hidden Fortress respawns, quests, and armor glitches.
MMO Week in Review: Way too early access
This week's MMO news covers the early access launch of Stars Reach, which some consider premature. Other highlights include a look at Guild Wars 3's Kodan, Daybreak's acquisition of Cold Iron Studios, new content for EverQuest Legends, and an analysis of the survival game Stormforge. The article also touches on various other MMO updates, rumors, and industry discussions.
A Canceled Mandalorian Looter Shooter Just Surfaced, and Star Wars Fans Are Devastated
Footage has emerged from the defunct studio Echtra Games showcasing a canceled Star Wars looter shooter set in The Mandalorian universe. The game, which featured a Jedi and a Mandalorian protagonist, appeared to be in an advanced state of development, sparking disappointment and discussion among fans about what could have been.
