Casey Hudson wants you to stop worrying. Following the announcement of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic at The Game Awards 2025, speculation ran wild that the game wouldn’t arrive until 2030 or later. The legendary director, who helmed the original Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect trilogy, has now personally stepped in to set the record straight. The game will launch before 2030, and as Hudson succinctly put it, he’s not getting any younger.
Where the 2030 Rumor Started
The confusion began shortly after the Game Awards reveal when Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier commented on social media that a 2030 release window seemed like an optimistic guess. His reasoning made sense on paper. Arcanaut Studios, Hudson’s development team, only formed in 2024 after his previous studio Humanoid Origin shut down. Building a studio from scratch while simultaneously developing a AAA Star Wars RPG represents a monumental challenge.
Social media being what it is, Schreier’s speculative comment morphed into headlines proclaiming the game definitely wouldn’t arrive until at least 2030. This framing spread across gaming communities, dampening the excitement many fans felt about Hudson’s return to the Star Wars universe.
Hudson’s Direct Response
Rather than let misinformation spread, Hudson addressed the speculation head-on via Twitter. His message was clear and refreshingly straightforward. The game will be out before 2030, which means players can expect it sometime in 2029 at the latest. That puts the release window roughly four years away from now, assuming no major delays.
The comment about not getting any younger adds a personal touch that resonates with fans who’ve followed Hudson’s career since the original KOTOR launched over two decades ago. At this stage in his career, Hudson has nothing to prove. He’s returning to Star Wars because he has a story to tell and wants to deliver another definitive experience in that universe before too much more time passes.
What We Know About the Game
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is being described as a spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic rather than a direct sequel. Set during the Old Republic era on the brink of rebirth, players step into the role of a Force user making decisions that push them toward the light or dark side. The game promises narrative-driven, single-player RPG gameplay with memorable characters and heart-pounding combat.
According to Hudson’s statement on StarWars.com, the game uses state-of-the-art technology and modern game design principles while maintaining the combination of player agency and Star Wars immersion that defined KOTOR. Importantly, this is an all-new story with new characters, not a continuation of Revan’s tale or the events of the original games.
The Arcanaut Studios Story
Hudson’s journey to this announcement has been anything but straightforward. After leaving BioWare in 2020 following the troubled development of Anthem, he founded Humanoid Origin in 2021. That studio was working on a sci-fi AAA game with ambitious plans for hiring and growth. Concept art suggested a Mass Effect-like experience featuring human explorers, alien worlds, and massive space technology.
Unfortunately, Humanoid Origin couldn’t secure the funding needed to continue operations. The studio shut down in November 2024, just a few years after formation, joining the unfortunate list of veteran-led studios that couldn’t survive the current gaming industry drought of investor money and publishing deals. Roughly 70 employees lost their jobs when the studio closed.
Undeterred, Hudson quickly pivoted to form Arcanaut Studios. The opportunity to work with Lucasfilm Games arose sometime after Arcanaut’s founding. Hudson had stayed in contact with Lucasfilm since the original KOTOR, and the timing aligned for a new collaboration. Now he’s assembled a team of veteran developers and storytellers to tackle this ambitious project.
Building a Studio While Making a Game
| Challenge | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Formation | 2024 | Complete |
| Team Building/Recruitment | Ongoing | In Progress |
| Game Development | 2024-2029 | Early Development |
| Expected Release | Before 2030 | Target Confirmed |
One reason the 2030 speculation gained traction is the sheer difficulty of what Hudson and Arcanaut are attempting. The studio is currently recruiting developers, meaning the team isn’t even fully formed yet. Simultaneously, they’re in early development on a AAA Star Wars RPG that carries massive fan expectations as the spiritual successor to one of gaming’s most beloved titles.
This dual challenge of studio building and game development explains why the announcement came so early. Hudson needs to attract top talent, and revealing a high-profile Star Wars project helps immensely with recruitment. Talented developers want to work on prestigious projects, and KOTOR’s legacy combined with Hudson’s reputation makes this an attractive opportunity despite the studio’s newness.
Not a KOTOR Remake or Sequel
It’s worth clarifying what Fate of the Old Republic is and isn’t. This is not the Knights of the Old Republic remake that Aspyr was working on before that project was indefinitely postponed in 2022. Game File reported as recently as March 2025 that a KOTOR remake and potential sequel were still under development somewhere, but those projects remain separate from Hudson’s work.
Fate of the Old Republic also isn’t KOTOR 3, the long-desired continuation of Revan’s story that fans have begged for since 2003. Hudson has been explicit that this game tells a completely new story with new characters. It’s set in the Old Republic era and shares thematic DNA with KOTOR, but it’s fundamentally a different adventure designed to deliver on player choice and Star Wars immersion using modern technology.
Hudson’s KOTOR Legacy
Understanding why fans care so much about this announcement requires understanding Hudson’s history with Star Wars. He directed the original Knights of the Old Republic, which launched in 2003 to widespread critical acclaim and became one of the defining RPGs of that era. The game proved that Star Wars could work brilliantly in the RPG genre, offering players meaningful choices between light and dark side paths while exploring a rich period of galactic history.
KOTOR’s influence extended far beyond Star Wars games. The moral choice system, companion interactions, and branching narrative paths Hudson helped pioneer became templates for modern RPGs. His work on the Mass Effect trilogy further refined these concepts, creating another legendary franchise built on player agency and memorable characters.
After returning to BioWare in 2017 following Mass Effect Andromeda’s troubled launch, Hudson oversaw the disastrous development and release of Anthem before departing in 2020. His career hit a low point with Humanoid Origin’s closure in 2024. Fate of the Old Republic represents a chance for redemption and a return to the type of game that made Hudson a legendary name in RPG development.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Star Wars Fate of the Old Republic release?
Casey Hudson has confirmed the game will release before 2030, meaning sometime in 2029 at the latest. However, the game is in early development, so a more specific release window hasn’t been announced. Expect updates as development progresses over the next few years.
Is this game a sequel to Knights of the Old Republic?
No. While it’s described as a spiritual successor and is set in the Old Republic era, Fate of the Old Republic tells a completely new story with new characters. It’s not a direct continuation of the original KOTOR games or Revan’s storyline.
What happened to the Knights of the Old Republic remake?
The KOTOR remake by Aspyr was indefinitely postponed in 2022. Reports suggest development on a KOTOR remake and potential sequel continued as of March 2025, but those projects are separate from Fate of the Old Republic. Hudson’s game is an entirely different project.
What is Arcanaut Studios?
Arcanaut Studios is Casey Hudson’s new development studio, formed in 2024 after his previous studio Humanoid Origin shut down. The team consists of veteran developers and storytellers working in partnership with Lucasfilm Games on Fate of the Old Republic.
Will the game have light side and dark side choices like KOTOR?
Yes. According to the official description, every decision deepens the player’s journey toward light or darkness. The game promises to deliver on the combination of player agency and Star Wars immersion that was central to the original KOTOR.
Why did Casey Hudson leave BioWare?
Hudson left BioWare in 2020 following the troubled development and release of Anthem. He had previously left in 2014 but returned in 2017 as general manager after Mass Effect Andromeda’s rough launch. His 2020 departure was unexpected and came alongside Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah.
What happened to Humanoid Origin?
Humanoid Origin, Hudson’s first studio after leaving BioWare, shut down in November 2024 after failing to secure funding to continue operations. The studio was working on a sci-fi AAA game but closed before releasing anything, with approximately 70 employees losing their jobs.
Is this a single-player or multiplayer game?
Fate of the Old Republic is a single-player, narrative-driven action RPG. There’s been no mention of multiplayer features. The focus appears to be entirely on delivering a story-driven experience with player choices affecting the outcome.
A Long Wait, But Worth It?
Four years represents a significant wait, especially for fans who’ve been craving a worthy successor to Knights of the Old Republic for over two decades. The game is in early development with many challenges ahead, as Hudson himself acknowledged. Building a studio while creating a AAA game is no small feat, and the gaming industry remains volatile with numerous high-profile cancellations and delays.
However, Hudson’s track record speaks for itself. When he’s had the resources and support needed, he’s delivered legendary games that defined their genres. The partnership with Lucasfilm Games suggests strong backing, and Hudson’s personal investment in the project is evident. He stayed in contact with Lucasfilm for years waiting for the right opportunity. This isn’t a cash grab or committee-designed product. It’s a passion project from a director who wants to return to the universe that helped make his name.
The promise of a release before 2030 gives fans a concrete timeframe to anchor their expectations. Will the game actually arrive in 2029? That remains to be seen. Game development is unpredictable, and early development stages can easily stretch into longer timelines. But for now, Hudson has made his intentions clear. Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is coming, and it’s coming before the decade ends. For KOTOR fans who’ve waited over 20 years for a spiritual successor directed by the original architect, a few more years suddenly doesn’t seem so long.