The legal drama surrounding Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2’s cancelled Switch DLC finally reached a settlement in late 2024, but not before becoming one of the strangest gaming lawsuits in recent memory. What started as a straightforward false advertising claim transformed into a courtroom spectacle featuring accusations of demonic possession, Lil Wayne lyrics, and arguments about whether anyone actually watches YouTube trailers to the end.
The Promise That Started It All
In June 2022, developer Aspyr released Knights of the Old Republic 2 on Nintendo Switch with a tantalizing promise. A YouTube trailer briefly mentioned that DLC based on the fan-made Restored Content Mod would arrive in Q3 2022. This was massive news for Star Wars fans because the Restored Content Mod adds hours of cut content that developer Obsidian Entertainment couldn’t include in the original 2004 release due to time constraints.
When Q3 came and went without the DLC, fans grew frustrated. Then in June 2023, Aspyr cancelled the DLC entirely. Instead of refunds, the company offered affected customers a free Star Wars game. One fan, Malachi Mickelonis, felt completely duped and decided to sue. He hadn’t even played the game yet, waiting specifically for the promised restored content to drop.
When Legal Arguments Get Weird
The lawsuit, filed in summer 2023 in California’s Central District Court, quickly took some unexpected turns. Mickelonis hired former corporate lawyer Ray Kim, and things got bizarre almost immediately. When Aspyr’s legal team tried to have the case dismissed and demanded sanctions against Kim, his response was unconventional to say the least.
Kim fired back with a court filing that quoted Lil Wayne: “Okay, you’re a goon, but what’s a goon to a Goblin? Nothing. Nothing. You ain’t scaring nothing.” The filing helpfully clarified that Aspyr and its lawyers were the “goons” while Kim and his client were naturally the “goblins” who would not be deterred.
Demonic Possession and YouTube Analytics
The courtroom drama intensified when Kim claimed that one of Aspyr’s attorneys, Keith Scully, began yelling at his client “as if possessed by a demon” during a conversation. Scully disputed this characterization, stating in an email that he merely raised his voice to steer the discussion back to productive ground. The accusation of demonic possession made its way into official court filings, adding another layer of absurdity to the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Aspyr deployed various defense strategies that raised eyebrows. One argument claimed the DLC teaser couldn’t have been widely seen because it appeared at the end of a YouTube trailer. Aspyr’s lawyers argued that “many YouTube viewers skip videos after the first five seconds,” suggesting minimal impact from their own marketing materials. The judge wasn’t swayed by this reasoning.
The Expert Who Said It Was Worthless
In April 2024, Aspyr brought in Frank Gilson, Blizzard’s former production manager, as an expert witness. His testimony argued that the promised DLC based on the Restored Content Mod had “no economic value” because it was derived from free fan-made content. This argument attempted to minimize the significance of what Aspyr had promoted as a major selling point for the Switch port.
The testimony ignored the reality that many fans purchased the $15 Switch version specifically for this content, even though the PC version typically sells for just $10 on Steam. The restored content was never officially available on consoles before, making it a genuine draw for players who wanted the complete KOTOR 2 experience on their Nintendo hardware.
Disney Blocked Everything
Court documents revealed that Aspyr genuinely tried to deliver the promised DLC. The company explored distributing the mod via Mod.io, but Disney and Lucasfilm’s legal teams shut that down. Another plan involved having Aspyr’s developers recreate the mod content themselves to avoid legal complications about ownership, but this approach didn’t make financial sense for the company.
The filings also exposed what Aspyr considered vital trade secrets. Email chains between Aspyr and Lucasfilm were heavily redacted because they revealed “the identities of the right persons to work with at Lucasfilm to secure access to Lucasfilm intellectual property.” Aspyr claimed it took “years, sometimes decades” to cultivate these relationships and that revealing them would cause lasting business harm. The court permitted the redactions.
The Secret KOTOR 2 Remake
Perhaps the most intriguing revelation from the court filings was the existence of “Project Juliet” – a full KOTOR 2 remake that Aspyr and Lucasfilm had been working on. Details remain scarce, but the documents suggest this project exists somewhere in development limbo, stuck in what one report called “the phantom zone” after the legal complications surrounding the Switch port.
The case eventually diminished from a class-action lawsuit to a smaller dispute involving fewer than 20 gamers. When the judge determined it could proceed to trial, both parties opted for settlement negotiations instead. The terms weren’t disclosed publicly, bringing an end to the two-and-a-half-year saga.
FAQs
What was the KOTOR 2 Switch lawsuit about?
Gamer Malachi Mickelonis sued Aspyr for false advertising after the company cancelled promised DLC based on the Restored Content Mod for the Nintendo Switch port. He claimed he purchased the game specifically for this content and was refused a refund when it was cancelled.
Who is Frank Gilson and what did he testify?
Frank Gilson is Blizzard’s former production manager who served as an expert witness for Aspyr. He testified that the promised DLC had “no economic value” because it was based on free fan-made content, an argument meant to minimize Aspyr’s liability.
Why did Aspyr cancel the Restored Content DLC?
Court documents revealed that Disney and Lucasfilm’s legal teams objected to the release. Aspyr tried multiple approaches to deliver the content, including using Mod.io and having developers recreate it, but ultimately couldn’t make it work legally or financially.
Did anyone quote rap lyrics in actual court filings?
Yes. Plaintiff’s attorney Ray Kim quoted Lil Wayne in his legal response, comparing Aspyr’s lawyers to “goons” while describing himself and his client as “goblins” who wouldn’t be intimidated. The quote made it into official court documents.
What is Project Juliet?
Project Juliet is the code name for a full KOTOR 2 remake that Aspyr and Lucasfilm were developing. The project’s existence was revealed in court filings, though its current status remains unclear following the legal complications.
How did the lawsuit end?
The case was settled out of court in December 2024 after a judge ruled it could proceed to trial. Settlement terms were not disclosed publicly. The lawsuit had shrunk from a class-action to a case involving fewer than 20 gamers by the time it reached settlement.
What was the demonic possession claim?
Plaintiff’s attorney Ray Kim claimed in court filings that Aspyr’s lawyer Keith Scully yelled at his client “as if possessed by a demon.” Scully responded that he merely raised his voice to keep the conversation productive, but the bizarre accusation became part of the official record.
Conclusion
The KOTOR 2 lawsuit perfectly captures the sometimes absurd intersection of gaming culture, corporate legal strategy, and passionate fandom. While Aspyr apparently made genuine efforts to deliver the promised content, corporate legal barriers and questionable defense arguments turned a simple consumer complaint into a multi-year spectacle. The settlement brings closure, but the revelations about Project Juliet suggest the KOTOR 2 story isn’t over yet. For now, Switch owners who wanted the restored content are left with the base game and memories of one of gaming’s strangest legal battles.