Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic Will Launch Before 2030, Confirms Casey Hudson

The Game Awards 2025 delivered one of its most unexpected reveals with the announcement of Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic, a brand new narrative driven action RPG set in the iconic era made famous by Knights of the Old Republic. Early speculation suggested the reveal would center on the long awaited KOTOR remake, especially after prior hints from leaker Kurakasis. Instead, audiences were introduced to an entirely new project led by Casey Hudson, the original game director and producer of Knights of the Old Republic and the creative force behind the Mass Effect trilogy.

Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic is being developed by Arcanaut Studios, a newly formed team founded by Hudson and headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, with additional offices in Kelowna, British Columbia. The studio’s official formation dates back to July 2025, making its presence at The Game Awards all the more surprising. Hudson previously founded Humanoid Origin, which was forced to close in late 2024 due to funding challenges, making Arcanaut his latest creative reset.

The studio’s recent founding immediately raised concerns among fans about how far away the game might be. Those fears were reinforced by commentary from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, who posted on Bluesky via Jason Schreier on Bluesky, suggesting that a 2030 release might already be an optimistic estimate given modern triple A development timelines. Schreier even joked that the title could end up as a PlayStation 7 era release.

However, Casey Hudson directly addressed these concerns. In a public statement shared through Casey Hudson on X, he dismissed speculation of a post 2030 launch, confirming that Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic is planned to release before that year. While no specific date was provided, Hudson’s reassurance suggests that the project is further along internally than many initially assumed.

Whether a pre 2030 launch is realistic depends heavily on scope. Both Arcanaut Studios and Lucasfilm have described the project as a narrative driven action RPG and a spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic rather than a direct sequel. In an interview published on the official Star Wars website, Hudson explained that the team is prioritizing cinematic storytelling, player agency, and narrative depth over massive open world design.

This approach aligns closely with the structure of the original Knights of the Old Republic. According to data from HowLongToBeat, the classic RPG featured roughly 7.5 hours of side content, favoring a focused and linear experience rather than sprawling optional activities. If Fate of the Old Republic follows a similar design philosophy, a 2029 release window becomes far more plausible.

Another potential factor is the role of AI assisted development. While controversial among some players, selective use of AI tools could help streamline asset production and iteration cycles, potentially shortening development timelines. That said, public perception and ethical concerns may limit how prominently such tools are used.

In the broader Star Wars gaming landscape, there is still plenty on the horizon. A recent report suggests the Knights of the Old Republic remake remains in active development at Mad Head Games. Quantic Dream’s Star Wars Eclipse is also still planned, despite its own prolonged silence. Meanwhile, Respawn Entertainment is hard at work on the third and final entry in the Star Wars Jedi series, with a potential release window in late 2027 or early 2028 based on previous launch cadence.

Star Wars fans will not have to wait entirely empty handed. Two new titles are scheduled for next year, including the newly revealed arcade racing game Galactic Racer and the turn based tactics experience Zero Company.

While Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic is still several years away, Hudson’s confirmation provides welcome clarity and reassurance. With a focused scope, experienced leadership, and a clear creative vision, the project now stands as one of the most closely watched Star Wars games in development.

Do you think a narrative focused approach is the right move for Fate of the Old Republic, or were you hoping for a larger open world RPG experience?