Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic was one of the most exciting reveals during last year’s Game Awards ceremony, and while fans are fearing another Star Wars Eclipse situation of getting zero news for years after a cool first teaser, it seems that work on the new RPG has been ramping up since December.
Shortly after the game’s announcement, KOTOR and Mass Effect director Casey Hudson – who is also helming this project – commented on rumours which suggested it wouldn’t arrive before 2030. The former BioWare developer promised the ambitious RPG would be out before then, and reminded fans he isn’t “getting any younger” either.
For now, hiring for the project is underway at Arcanaut Studios, and now it’s recruited Pascal Blanché (Myst IV, Splinter Cell: Conviction) as studio art director. The artist announced he’d joined the Star Wars adventure via his own Bluesky account.
Blanché (whose ArtStation page you can check out here) had recently worked at Behaviour Interactive, where he led the artistic vision for games such as the horror-themed dating sim Hooked on You and building-action hybrid Meet your Maker. Previously, he helped visually define a number of Ubisoft titles like Far Cry: New Dawn, the first Assassin’s Creed, and the original Avatar tie-in game.
Blanché also helped design bits of Star Wars’ High Republic era, including the iconic Starlight Beacon, so this isn’t his first rodeo in a galaxy far, far away. Needless to say, we’re excited to see what style he can bring to this original story set at the tail-end of the Old Republic era. Whether it’ll be part of Lucasfilm’s current canon timeline or a follow-up to the Legends-set KOTOR (and The Old Republic) remains to be seen.
In case you were wondering and need a quick update, Fate of the Old Republic shouldn’t have a direct impact on development of the previously announced Knights of the Old Republic remake; according to Saber Interactive, it’s still happening after a major creative shake-up reportedly happened in 2022.
