Sometimes the most significant gaming news comes from the strangest places. In this case, it’s a court deposition about cancelled DLC that nobody really talks about anymore. Game File journalist Stephen Totilo uncovered documents revealing that Disney and Lucasfilm Games have been actively planning a full remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords. Not a port, not a remaster, but a complete from-the-ground-up remake that will finally include all the content Obsidian Entertainment had to cut from the rushed 2004 release.
How a Failed Switch DLC Exposed the Remake
The story starts back in 2022 when Aspyr Media released Knights of the Old Republic II on Nintendo Switch. The developer promised to add the famous Restored Content Mod as official DLC, something fans had been requesting for years. The mod, created by dedicated community members, restored hours of cut content that publisher LucasArts forced Obsidian to remove due to an impossible December 2004 deadline. For PC players, installing this mod has been essential for experiencing KOTOR 2 as intended for nearly two decades.
However, the Switch DLC was cancelled in May 2023 after nearly a year of silence. Aspyr offered players a free copy of any other Star Wars game they published as compensation, but gave no real explanation beyond mentioning that a third party objected. Now we know why. Court documents from December 2025 show that Disney’s legal team blocked the release because Aspyr couldn’t get all 22 people involved in creating the mod to sign off on the rights.
Project Juliet is KOTOR 2 Remake
During a March 2025 deposition, attorney Ray Kim questioned Douglas Reilly, who has served as Vice President of Lucasfilm Games for years. When asked about something called Project Juliet, Reilly confirmed it was the internal codename for a full Knights of the Old Republic II remake. His exact words described it as a project with modern art, modern gameplay, keeping the story and characters intact while updating it for current hardware with enhanced graphics.
Most significantly, Reilly stated that the remake would incorporate the Restored Content Mod material. This addresses the single biggest complaint about the original game, which shipped incomplete with a notoriously rushed final act. The HK-47 factory level, multiple character storylines, and entire plot threads were left unfinished or cut entirely. The mod community spent years reconstructing what Obsidian intended, and now that work will apparently become official canon.
| Feature | Original (2004) | Remake (TBA) |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics & Art | Original Xbox era visuals | Modern AAA quality graphics |
| Gameplay | Turn-based D20 combat | Modernized gameplay (details TBA) |
| Story & Characters | Core narrative intact but rushed ending | Complete story with restored cut content |
| HK-47 Factory | Completely cut from release | Restored and fully developed |
| M4-78 Droid Planet | Cut content (later modded in) | Unclear if included |
| Character Endings | Incomplete or missing | Fully realized conclusion for all companions |
What About KOTOR 1 Remake
Reilly’s testimony also addressed the first Knights of the Old Republic remake, which was officially announced back in September 2021. According to the deposition, KOTOR 1 comes first on the roadmap. Development on that project has been turbulent, to put it mildly. Originally assigned to Aspyr Media, the project was reportedly paused in July 2022 after a vertical slice demo failed to impress Sony and Lucasfilm.
Saber Interactive took over development after splitting from Embracer Group in early 2024. The studio’s leadership has repeatedly insisted the project remains in active development. Most recently in March 2025, Saber’s Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits posted on social media that everything the studio announced is still happening. However, nearly four years after the reveal trailer, players have seen nothing beyond that initial teaser.
The Disney Legal Mess
The cancelled Switch DLC situation reveals just how complicated game development can become when dealing with community-created content and corporate legal departments. According to the court documents, Disney initially gave Aspyr the green light to work with modders as long as the studio could guarantee it had all necessary rights. One of the mod’s main creators, a person going by Zbyl, agreed to sign paperwork on behalf of the entire team with a mutual non-sue agreement.
The problem was that the Restored Content Mod wasn’t just four people. It included two voice actors, over a dozen translators, and various contributors who fixed specific bugs, totaling 22 individuals. Zbyl couldn’t contact everyone for approval. A month after the initial agreement, Lucasfilm told Aspyr they couldn’t approve the DLC until everyone was either credited properly or had their work replaced. Rather than go through that nightmare, the project was killed.
Why KOTOR 2 Deserves This
Knights of the Old Republic II is one of gaming’s greatest what-if stories. Written primarily by Chris Avellone, the game took a deconstructionist approach to Star Wars that questioned the morality of the Jedi Order and the nature of the Force itself. Through the character of Kreia, players experienced a Star Wars story unlike anything before or since, one that challenged the franchise’s traditional black-and-white morality.
But the game launched in an embarrassing state. LucasArts demanded a holiday 2004 release despite Obsidian needing several more months. Entire planets were gutted, companion storylines ended abruptly, and the final act felt rushed and incomplete. The game still received critical acclaim for its writing and characters, but everyone knew they were playing an unfinished masterpiece. The community modding scene spent years reverse-engineering cut content and bug fixes to create the definitive version that should have shipped originally.
When Will We Actually See These Games
Here’s where things get frustrating. The deposition happened in March 2025, which means the information is already nine months old at time of publication. Reilly specifically said the projects were still on the roadmap at that time, but Totilo notes he reached out to Disney and Saber Interactive representatives for current status updates and received no response. That silence could mean anything from continued development to complete cancellation.
The first KOTOR remake was announced in September 2021. If we’re generous and assume Saber’s takeover didn’t cause major restarts, that’s over four years of development with nothing to show publicly. Most AAA games take four to six years to develop, which suggests we might finally see something in 2026. Then again, this is the same project that was reportedly indefinitely paused in 2022, so who really knows.
FAQs
Is KOTOR 2 remake officially confirmed?
Not publicly by Disney or Lucasfilm, but court documents from a March 2025 deposition show Douglas Reilly, VP of Lucasfilm Games, confirming that a full KOTOR 2 remake called Project Juliet was on their development roadmap. Stephen Totilo from Game File uncovered these documents in December 2025.
Will the KOTOR 2 remake include cut content?
Yes, according to Douglas Reilly’s testimony, the remake will incorporate material from the Restored Content Mod. This includes the HK-47 factory, completed companion storylines, and a properly finished final act that was rushed in the original 2004 release.
What happened to the KOTOR 2 Switch DLC?
Aspyr planned to release the Restored Content Mod as official DLC for the Switch port but cancelled it in May 2023. Court documents reveal that Disney’s legal team blocked the release because Aspyr couldn’t get all 22 people involved in creating the mod to sign off on the rights.
Is KOTOR 1 remake still happening?
Development appears ongoing but troubled. Originally developed by Aspyr, the project moved to Saber Interactive after reportedly being paused in 2022. Saber executives insist it’s still in development as of March 2025, but nearly four years after announcement, no gameplay has been shown publicly.
When will the KOTOR remakes release?
No release dates have been announced for either remake. The KOTOR 1 remake was revealed in September 2021, suggesting it’s further along, but Lucasfilm confirmed KOTOR 1 comes first on the roadmap before KOTOR 2. Realistically, don’t expect either before 2026 at the earliest.
Who is developing the KOTOR remakes?
Saber Interactive is handling the KOTOR 1 remake after taking over from Aspyr Media. The developer for KOTOR 2 remake hasn’t been officially confirmed, though court documents mention Lucasfilm was in discussions with Aspyr about the project.
Will Chris Avellone be involved in the KOTOR 2 remake?
Nothing has been confirmed about Avellone’s involvement. The original lead writer left Obsidian Entertainment years ago and has not been publicly connected to the remake project. However, the court documents specify the story and characters will remain intact.
What is the Restored Content Mod?
The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod is a fan-created project that restores hours of content cut from KOTOR 2’s rushed 2004 release. It includes the HK-47 factory level, complete companion storylines, proper character endings, and numerous bug fixes. It’s considered essential for the definitive KOTOR 2 experience on PC.
Will the remakes be canon or Legends?
The original KOTOR games are part of Star Wars Legends continuity, and the remakes are expected to maintain that status. Disney has not indicated plans to bring the Old Republic era into official canon, though elements have been referenced in new Star Wars media.
Conclusion
The gaming industry has a funny way of revealing its secrets. What started as a story about cancelled Switch DLC and legal complications turned into confirmation that one of Star Wars gaming’s most beloved titles is getting the remake treatment it deserves. The fact that Lucasfilm plans to include all the restored content shows they understand what made KOTOR 2 special and why the original release left fans disappointed. Now we just have to wait and see if these projects actually make it to release. Given the troubled history of the KOTOR 1 remake and the complete lack of official communication, temper your expectations. But for fans who have spent two decades wondering what KOTOR 2 could have been with a proper development timeline, this news offers genuine hope that we might finally get to experience Kreia’s story the way Obsidian intended.