- When Your Last Studio Closes, Just Start Another One
- Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
- Jason Schreier Says 2030 Is Optimistic
- What Happened to Humanoid Origin
- The Industry Context Makes This Harder
- The Edmonton Talent War
- Can They Actually Deliver Before 2030
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Third Time’s The Charm?
When Your Last Studio Closes, Just Start Another One
Casey Hudson founded Arcanaut Studios in July 2025, barely eight months after his previous company Humanoid Origin shut down without releasing a single game. At The Game Awards on December 11, 2025, Hudson announced Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a single-player narrative RPG billed as the spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic. The trailer was pure CG spectacle with zero gameplay, the studio is actively hiring for senior positions, and industry skeptics are already calling a 2030 release optimistic. Hudson insists they’ll deliver before the decade ends.
This marks Hudson’s third studio launch in four years. He left BioWare in December 2020 after nearly two decades directing Mass Effect and KOTOR. Six months later, he announced Humanoid Origin with promises of a AAA sci-fi game in a new universe. That project never materialized. Humanoid Origin closed in November 2024 citing an unexpected shortfall of funding, leaving 70 employees scrambling for work and nothing to show for three years of development beyond concept art and a playable prototype nobody outside the company ever saw.
So naturally, Hudson immediately started another studio and convinced Lucasfilm Games to let him make a Star Wars RPG. The ambition is admirable. The track record is concerning. Whether Arcanaut Studios delivers what Humanoid Origin couldn’t depends on factors Hudson couldn’t control last time: funding stability, publisher support, and an industry environment that’s been brutally hostile to new studios attempting big-budget single-player games.
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic
The announcement trailer positions Fate of the Old Republic as a narrative-driven, single-player action RPG set at the end of the Old Republic era. You play a Force user navigating a galaxy on the verge of renewal, where every choice influences your journey toward light or darkness. It’s classic BioWare-style branching narrative design, which makes sense given Hudson directed the original KOTOR in 2003 and the Mass Effect trilogy from 2007 to 2012.
The official description emphasizes choice and consequence, promising an epic interactive journey crafted by seasoned developers and storytellers. Hudson assembled a team including veterans from Microsoft, Epic Games, Remedy Entertainment, The Coalition, and ZeniMax Media. Several former Humanoid Origin employees joined Arcanaut, suggesting Hudson retained at least some of his previous team when that studio collapsed.
What’s conspicuously absent from the announcement is any gameplay footage, release window specifics, or platform confirmations beyond a vague acknowledgment the game exists. The Game Awards reveal functioned primarily as a recruitment tool, with Arcanaut’s careers page featuring listings for senior-level positions across programming, art, design, and production. That’s normal for studios in early development, but it also confirms the project is extremely early in its lifecycle.
What We Know About Fate of the Old Republic
- Single-player narrative action RPG, spiritual successor to KOTOR
- Set at the end of the Old Republic era during galactic renewal
- Choice-driven gameplay affecting alignment toward light or dark side
- Developed by Arcanaut Studios in partnership with Lucasfilm Games
- Led by Casey Hudson, original KOTOR and Mass Effect trilogy director
- Team includes veterans from Microsoft, Epic, Remedy, Coalition, ZeniMax
- Currently in early production, actively hiring senior staff
- Targeting release before 2030 according to Hudson
Jason Schreier Says 2030 Is Optimistic
Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier immediately threw cold water on the announcement, noting on Bluesky that Arcanaut Studios was founded in 2025, which makes a 2030 launch window optimistic at best. He joked the game might be a PlayStation 7 exclusive given how long AAA development cycles run these days. Schreier has a track record of accurately predicting delays and understanding realistic development timelines, so his skepticism carries weight.
Hudson responded directly on Twitter, stating he’s not getting any younger and promising the game will launch within the next five years. That timeline would mean delivery between 2026 and 2030, with 2030 being the absolute latest. For context, modern AAA RPGs typically require 5-7 years from studio foundation to launch. Baldur’s Gate 3 took six years. The Witcher 3 needed three and a half years with an established studio and engine. Hudson is promising to deliver a comparable experience in five years maximum with a brand new studio.
The challenge isn’t just time. It’s resources, stability, and avoiding the funding collapse that killed Humanoid Origin. Hudson admitted the previous studio achieved incredible progress and demonstrated amazing work culture before money ran out. That suggests the problem wasn’t creative vision or team dysfunction. It was capital. Arcanaut needs sustainable funding for the entire development cycle, which means either publisher backing, investor support, or both. The Lucasfilm Games partnership suggests at least some financial security, but details remain undisclosed.
What Happened to Humanoid Origin
Understanding why Humanoid Origin failed provides context for evaluating Arcanaut’s chances. Hudson founded Humanoid in June 2021 with the goal of creating a multiplatform AAA game focusing on character-driven narrative in an all-new science-fiction universe. The concept sounded like Mass Effect but legally distinct, playing to Hudson’s strengths while avoiding BioWare IP conflicts. The studio raised funding, hired 70 employees, and developed a playable prototype by July 2022.
Then nothing. For two years, Humanoid Origin showed minimal public progress beyond hiring announcements and vague concept art. The studio changed its name from Humanoid Studios to Humanoid Origin in 2023, explaining the rebrand reflected that in a world of AI-generated content, their creativity originated with talented humans. That messaging sounded defensive, possibly responding to investor pressure about AI tools becoming standard in AAA development.
In November 2024, Hudson announced Humanoid Origin was shutting down due to an unexpected shortfall of funding. Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader industry challenges, they couldn’t sustain operations. The statement emphasized heartbreak over not completing their science-fiction universe and commitment to helping displaced employees find work. For a studio that promised to revolutionize AAA development culture while delivering a Mass Effect-caliber experience, closing without releasing anything represents complete failure.
The Industry Context Makes This Harder
Humanoid Origin died during one of the worst periods for the gaming industry in over a decade. Studios across the industry laid off thousands of employees. Publishers canceled projects mid-development. Investor funding for new studios dried up as economic uncertainty made big-budget single-player games seem risky. Humanoid Origin wasn’t unique. It was one of many veteran-led studios that launched with hype, secured initial funding, then collapsed when follow-up investment didn’t materialize.
Arcanaut Studios launches into a slightly improved but still challenging environment. Layoffs continue across the industry. Publishers remain conservative about greenlighting expensive single-player RPGs when live service games generate more predictable revenue. The Lucasfilm Games partnership helps significantly, providing brand recognition and presumably some financial backing. But Star Wars games have failed spectacularly before. EA canceled multiple Star Wars projects. Respawn’s Jedi series succeeded, but other attempts flopped or underperformed.
Hudson’s advantage is experience and connections. He knows how to direct AAA development. His resume includes multiple genre-defining hits. Publishers and investors understand his value. The Lucasfilm partnership wouldn’t exist without that pedigree. But experience doesn’t guarantee funding stability or ensure the final product meets expectations. Humanoid Origin had the same pedigree and still failed. Arcanaut needs more than just Casey Hudson’s name to succeed where the previous studio couldn’t.
The Edmonton Talent War
Arcanaut Studios is based in Edmonton, Alberta, the same city as BioWare’s headquarters. This creates interesting dynamics for both companies. BioWare is working on the next Mass Effect game with a reduced team after multiple rounds of layoffs. Arcanaut offers an alternative for Edmonton game developers who want to work on single-player narrative RPGs without dealing with BioWare/EA corporate politics or the uncertainty surrounding the Mass Effect franchise.
Hudson’s presence in Edmonton competing for local talent puts pressure on BioWare to retain key employees. If experienced developers see Arcanaut as offering better creative freedom, stability, or leadership, they might jump ship. This happened when Hudson left BioWare the first time, taking some talent with him to Humanoid Origin. Several Humanoid employees joined Arcanaut when the previous studio closed, suggesting Hudson maintains loyalty from people who’ve worked with him before.
For Edmonton’s gaming ecosystem, multiple studios competing for talent is generally positive. It prevents BioWare from monopolizing local expertise while creating opportunities for developers who might otherwise need to relocate for work. Whether Arcanaut becomes a genuine competitor or another failed startup depends entirely on whether they can sustain funding and actually ship a game this time.
Can They Actually Deliver Before 2030
Hudson’s insistence that Fate of the Old Republic launches before 2030 requires aggressive development timelines and zero major setbacks. If Arcanaut truly founded in July 2025, they have four and a half years maximum to go from studio formation to shipped product. That’s technically possible but requires everything going perfectly. No funding shortfalls. No major creative pivots. No technical disasters requiring engine changes or fundamental redesigns.
The counterargument is that Hudson may have begun preproduction work before formally incorporating Arcanaut Studios. Concept development, pitch materials, and early prototyping could have started while Humanoid Origin was winding down or immediately after. If the team spent months preparing before the July 2025 incorporation, the effective development time extends beyond what official records suggest. That would make the 2030 target more realistic.
There’s also the possibility Hudson retained some work from Humanoid Origin’s canceled sci-fi game. If core systems, narrative frameworks, or technical foundations translate from that project to Fate of the Old Republic, it accelerates development significantly. However, switching from original IP to Star Wars likely required starting fresh on universe design, lore integration, and Lucasfilm approval processes. The benefit of retained work might be minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Casey Hudson?
Casey Hudson is a veteran game director who spent nearly 20 years at BioWare, where he directed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) and the Mass Effect trilogy (2007-2012). He served as BioWare’s general manager before leaving to found Humanoid Origin in 2021, which closed in 2024.
What is Arcanaut Studios?
Arcanaut Studios is a game development company founded in July 2025 by Casey Hudson and other industry veterans. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the studio is developing Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic in partnership with Lucasfilm Games.
When does Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic release?
Hudson promises the game will launch before 2030, giving the studio approximately four and a half years from incorporation to release. No specific date or window has been announced beyond that commitment.
What happened to Humanoid Origin?
Humanoid Origin, Casey Hudson’s previous studio, closed in November 2024 after three years without releasing a game. The shutdown was attributed to an unexpected shortfall of funding despite efforts to maintain operations during challenging industry conditions.
Is Fate of the Old Republic the same as the KOTOR Remake?
No. The KOTOR Remake is a separate project in development at Saber Interactive. Fate of the Old Republic is described as a spiritual successor to KOTOR rather than a remake, meaning it’s a new story in the Old Republic era inspired by the original game’s design philosophy.
What platforms will Fate of the Old Republic be on?
No platforms have been officially confirmed yet. Given modern AAA development standards and the 2030 target, expect PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at minimum. Next-generation consoles may also be supported depending on the actual release date.
Will there be gameplay footage soon?
Unlikely in the near term. The studio is actively hiring senior staff and in early production, suggesting gameplay systems are still being prototyped. Expect at least 1-2 years before substantive gameplay reveals.
Can Casey Hudson deliver after Humanoid Origin failed?
That’s the question everyone’s asking. Hudson has the pedigree and Lucasfilm partnership backing, but sustainable funding and avoiding the problems that killed Humanoid Origin are critical. The next 12-18 months will reveal whether Arcanaut has the stability to succeed where the previous studio failed.
Third Time’s The Charm?
Casey Hudson’s career arc reads like a cautionary tale about the challenges facing veteran developers trying to recapture past glory outside established studios. He helped create some of gaming’s most beloved franchises at BioWare, left to pursue independence, and watched his first solo venture collapse without shipping anything. Now he’s trying again with Arcanaut Studios, betting that partnering with Lucasfilm and returning to Star Wars will provide the stability and support Humanoid Origin lacked.
The cynical interpretation is that Hudson is repeating the same pattern expecting different results. Ambitious promises, AAA scope, narrative-driven single-player focus, and a brand new studio with minimal runway. If funding runs out again, Arcanaut joins Humanoid Origin in the graveyard of failed veteran-led startups. The optimistic view is that Hudson learned from previous mistakes, secured better financial backing through Lucasfilm, and assembled a leaner team capable of delivering within aggressive timelines.
Whether Fate of the Old Republic launches before 2030 matters less than whether it launches at all. Humanoid Origin never got that far. If Arcanaut can ship a completed game that captures even half the magic Hudson brought to KOTOR and Mass Effect, the industry will forgive the delays and skepticism. But if this becomes another canceled project from another shuttered studio, the narrative shifts from talented director seeking creative freedom to someone who can’t function outside BioWare’s support structure.
For now, Star Wars fans have something to hope for. A spiritual successor to KOTOR led by the original director, promising meaningful choices and epic storytelling in the Old Republic era. Whether those promises materialize or join Humanoid Origin’s unrealized sci-fi universe in development hell depends entirely on the next four years. Casey Hudson says he’s not getting any younger. Neither are the fans who’ve waited two decades for someone to recapture what made KOTOR special. Third time’s the charm. It better be.