Disney lawyers killed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II’s Restored Content DLC for Nintendo Switch, according to court documents uncovered by Game File reporter Stephen Totilo on December 7, 2025. The exclusive investigation revealed that Aspyr Media spent multiple years developing downloadable content based on the beloved fan-made Restored Content Mod, only to have the project cancelled by Disney’s legal department after Aspyr had nearly completed the work.
The revelation emerged from a lawsuit between Aspyr Media and Lucasfilm over the cancelled DLC, with depositions and court filings exposing the internal conflict between the development studio’s creative ambitions and Disney’s corporate legal concerns. The documents also unexpectedly revealed that a full remake of Knights of the Old Republic II with modern gameplay and improved story content was on Aspyr’s roadmap, though its current development status remains unclear as of December 2025.
What Is the Restored Content Mod
The Restored Content Mod for Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is one of gaming’s most famous community projects. The original KOTOR 2 released in December 2004 after a rushed 14-month development cycle that forced developer Obsidian Entertainment to cut significant story content, entire planets, companion interactions, and ending variations to meet publisher deadlines. The game shipped in an incomplete state that frustrated fans who could see the ambitious narrative Obsidian intended but couldn’t fully experience.
Beginning in 2009, dedicated modders formed The Sith Lords Restored Content Modification team to excavate leftover assets, dialogue, and code from the game files and restore cut content to create the experience Obsidian originally envisioned. The mod restores crucial story elements including the HK-50 droid factory on Telos, extended confrontations with major antagonists, deeper companion storylines, and a more coherent ending that properly resolves narrative threads the shipped game left dangling.
Why the Mod Matters
The Restored Content Mod transformed KOTOR 2 from a flawed masterpiece into one of Star Wars gaming’s finest achievements. With cut content restored, the game’s complex exploration of gray morality, the nature of the Force, and consequences of the Jedi Civil War reached the philosophical depths Obsidian intended. The mod became essential for any serious KOTOR 2 playthrough, with PC gamers universally recommending it alongside the base game purchase.
However, console players couldn’t access the Restored Content Mod because console platforms don’t support extensive modding like PC. When Aspyr ported KOTOR 2 to Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, console players again missed out on the restored experience. Aspyr recognized this gap and began developing official DLC that would bring restored content to all platforms, finally allowing console players to experience KOTOR 2 as Obsidian intended.
Disney’s Legal Objections
According to court documents, Disney’s legal team objected to Aspyr releasing the Restored Content DLC despite the studio having invested years of development work. While the specific legal reasoning hasn’t been fully disclosed, the concern likely centered on canon issues and quality control. Disney maintains strict oversight of Star Wars content to ensure consistency across films, television, games, books, and comics. Releasing content that Lucasfilm never officially approved in 2004 raised questions about whether restored material aligns with current Star Wars canon.
Additionally, Disney may have worried about quality standards. Obsidian cut content for various reasons including time constraints, but also because some material didn’t meet quality thresholds or created pacing problems. Disney’s legal team might have questioned whether restoring everything Obsidian originally planned would actually improve the game or introduce narrative issues that justify why the content was cut originally.
The Multi-Year Investment Wasted
Court depositions revealed Aspyr spent multiple years developing the Restored Content DLC before Disney’s legal team intervened. This wasn’t a quick project cancelled in early stages but a substantial investment nearing completion when lawyers blocked release. The wasted development time and resources represent significant financial loss for Aspyr, which initiated the lawsuit seeking compensation for work rendered valueless by Disney’s decision.
The situation highlights tensions between game developers who want to honor fan communities and give players the best possible experience, and corporate legal departments prioritizing brand protection and risk mitigation over creative ambitions. Aspyr clearly believed releasing restored content as official DLC would delight fans and improve KOTOR 2’s reputation, but Disney’s lawyers saw potential legal or brand complications that outweighed those benefits.
KOTOR 2 Remake Revelation
The same court documents revealed an unexpected bombshell: a full remake of Knights of the Old Republic II with modern gameplay and improved story was on Aspyr’s roadmap. In March 2025 depositions, Aspyr representatives stated the KOTOR 2 remake was technically on the roadmap, with plans to start with the Knights of the Old Republic remake (announced in 2021) before proceeding to the sequel.
Push Square reported that KOTOR 2 would receive a full remake treatment including modern gameplay mechanics bringing combat and exploration up to current standards, improved story content presumably incorporating elements from the Restored Content Mod officially, enhanced graphics utilizing contemporary engines and techniques, and expanded content beyond what the original 2004 release or Restored Content Mod offered.
Current Development Status Unknown
Stephen Totilo emphasized he cannot confirm the KOTOR 2 remake’s status as of December 2025. The deposition discussing the project occurred in March 2025, nine months before his reporting. During that deposition, Aspyr representatives noted they were no longer working on either KOTOR remake, with development transferred to Saber-owned Mad Head Games handling both projects.
This transfer of development responsibility raises questions about whether the KOTOR 2 remake remains in active production or exists only as aspirational roadmap material without committed resources. The turbulent development history of the first KOTOR remake suggests the sequel remake may face similar challenges or cancellation if the original remake never materializes.
The KOTOR Remake’s Troubled History
The Knights of the Old Republic remake was announced in September 2021 with Aspyr Media handling development and PlayStation exclusivity at launch. However, the project quickly encountered severe problems. In July 2022, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported development was put on indefinitely hold after disagreements between Aspyr, Sony, and Lucasfilm over quality and timeline. Aspyr had reportedly targeted late 2022 release but insiders suggested 2025 was more realistic before the project was paused entirely.
Development was transferred to Saber Interactive in August 2022, with Aspyr effectively removed from the project. Since then, updates have been sparse. In November 2023, industry insider Jeff Grubb stated definitively that nobody was working on the KOTOR remake, saying just full stop, this game is not being worked on in any way, at any studio. However, Saber Interactive has periodically reassured fans the project remains alive, though evidence of active development has been minimal.
Leaked Development Materials
In October 2025, development screenshots and concept art from Aspyr’s cancelled KOTOR remake build surfaced online. The leaked materials showed modernized weapons with modular customization systems, a franchise first, reimagined environments including detailed Kashyyyk concept art, updated character models, and gameplay screenshots demonstrating combat and exploration mechanics.
The leaks revealed Aspyr had made substantial progress before being removed from development. However, with Saber Interactive starting from scratch or heavily revising Aspyr’s work, none of these assets will likely appear in any final release if the remake ever ships. The community reaction mixed excitement at seeing the remake’s potential with frustration that this progress was abandoned.
Why KOTOR Projects Keep Failing
The pattern of failed KOTOR projects suggests fundamental challenges beyond normal development difficulties. Disney’s strict oversight of Star Wars content creates approval bottlenecks where creative decisions require sign-off from multiple corporate entities. Lucasfilm Games must approve design choices. Disney’s legal team reviews everything for brand consistency. Sony (for the remake’s PlayStation exclusivity) weighs in on technical expectations and quality standards.
These layers of oversight slow development and create situations where studios invest years into projects that get cancelled when one stakeholder objects. Aspyr’s Restored Content DLC spent years in development only for Disney lawyers to block release. The KOTOR remake transitioned between studios after Sony and Lucasfilm deemed Aspyr’s work insufficient. This revolving door of cancellations and developer changes makes completing any KOTOR project nearly impossible.
Community Impact
The revelation that Disney lawyers killed the Restored Content DLC sparked anger in gaming communities already frustrated by corporate decision-making that disregards fan desires. Console players who supported Aspyr’s KOTOR 2 port specifically hoping for restored content DLC felt betrayed that Disney blocked what would have been a definitive version. The lawsuit details humanize the developers who wanted to deliver great content but were overruled by corporate attorneys.
The KOTOR 2 remake revelation generated cautious excitement tempered by skepticism given the franchise’s troubled project history. Fans desperately want both KOTOR games remade for modern audiences, but repeated cancellations and development hell stories have conditioned the community to expect disappointment rather than celebrate announcements. Until actual gameplay footage emerges and release dates are confirmed, most fans assume KOTOR projects will never materialize.
FAQs
Why did Disney cancel the KOTOR 2 Restored Content DLC?
Court documents show Disney’s legal team blocked the release, though specific reasons haven’t been fully disclosed. Likely concerns included canon consistency with current Star Wars continuity and quality control over content Lucasfilm never officially approved in 2004.
Was the Restored Content DLC finished when Disney cancelled it?
Court depositions reveal Aspyr spent multiple years developing the DLC and had nearly completed the work before Disney lawyers intervened, making the cancellation particularly costly for the studio.
Is a KOTOR 2 remake actually happening?
Court documents from March 2025 show a KOTOR 2 remake was on Aspyr’s roadmap with modern gameplay and improved story. However, Stephen Totilo cannot confirm its current status as of December 2025, and development responsibility transferred to Mad Head Games.
What happened to the KOTOR remake?
Announced in 2021, the KOTOR remake faced severe development problems at Aspyr Media leading to indefinite pause in 2022. Development transferred to Saber Interactive, which claims the project is still alive though evidence of active development is minimal.
Can console players access the Restored Content Mod?
No, the Restored Content Mod only works on PC versions. Aspyr’s cancelled DLC would have been the only way for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox players to experience restored content officially.
Who is Stephen Totilo?
Stephen Totilo is an independent games journalist running Game File newsletter. He has over 20 years covering gaming, previously serving as Kotaku Editor-in-Chief and co-authoring Axios Gaming. His investigation uncovered the Restored Content DLC cancellation details.
Will the Restored Content DLC ever release?
Unknown. Disney lawyers blocked the original Aspyr version. Whether Disney’s position might change or if another studio could attempt the same project remains unclear, though the lawsuit suggests Aspyr won’t try again.
What is the Restored Content Mod?
A fan-made modification that restores content Obsidian Entertainment cut from KOTOR 2 due to rushed development. The mod adds story missions, companion content, and ending improvements, transforming the game into what Obsidian originally envisioned.
Conclusion
The revelation that Disney lawyers killed Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II’s Restored Content DLC exemplifies how corporate legal departments can override creative decisions and fan desires. Aspyr Media invested years developing official DLC that would have finally brought the beloved Restored Content Mod experience to console players, only to have Disney’s legal team block release after the work was nearly complete. The wasted effort and resources demonstrate the challenges of working with massive IP holders like Disney where brand protection concerns outweigh delivering what fans want. The unexpected discovery of a KOTOR 2 remake on Aspyr’s roadmap offers hope that console players might eventually experience restored content through a full remake rather than DLC, though the KOTOR remake’s development hell history suggests skepticism is warranted. Both projects illustrate why completing Star Wars games has become increasingly difficult under Disney’s ownership, with layers of corporate approval creating bottlenecks where studios invest substantial resources only for projects to collapse when stakeholders disagree. For Knights of the Old Republic fans, the pattern of failed projects and cancelled content has become depressingly familiar, making it hard to believe either remake will ever release despite passionate fan demand for modernized versions of these classic RPGs.