Last night’s The Game Awards treated us to an announcement we never saw coming. We have been anxiously awaiting the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake, which was announced in 2021. Instead, at the 2025 Game Awards, we got the teaser trailer for Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic. This new single-player action RPG is a spiritual successor to the KOTOR series. From Arcanaut Studios, a new studio opened in July 2025, the game development is led by original KOTOR and Mass Effect game director Casey Hudson. This is a huge win for the series, for most.

Casey Hudson Returns

The biggest gripe people have with Hudson is how he left the Mass Effect series and the disaster that was, is, Anthem (Anthem is shutting down in January of 2026). However, I beg you to “come, stay a while, and listen” (yes, I know that is from Diablo 2). I will regale you on why Fate of the Old Republic is the game that Star Wars fans have been waiting looking forward to for a while.

First, I would like to say that yes, we were all disappointed by the ending in Mass Effect 3. It felt rushed and like your choices earlier did not matter. However, game development has certainly changed since Mass Effect 3 was released. Fans are now more involved in game development. They play the games before they come out in alphas and betas. Developers look at social media more to see what fans are saying. There are more chances to show off your game and more people to get eyeballs on it through that same social media. Hudson and the folks at Arcanaut will know if the fans are happy before the game even releases.

Also, remember, Hudson had nothing to do with the 4th game in the series. He did, however, have a hand in Anthem. My argument for this was that the game industry was starting a shift to live service, and everyone was trying it. Having played Anthem, in what we want to call its prime, I actually enjoyed the gameplay and doing the missions with my friends. The game has not aged well, which is why it is shutting down, but Hudson is not at fault for that either. Now that we have squashed the negatives about Hudson, let’s move on to the game itself.

Death Star Plans Acquired

The year is 2004, and you just popped Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic into your original Xbox, Duke controller in hand. You marvel at the graphics, squeal at the story, and cheer at the gameplay. Fast forward 20 years, and the game, while still fun, has not aged well. The controls are archaic, and the cameras and graphics are janky. All of this reminds me of another game. This, too, is an amazing game, but it did not age the best, as many games do not. If you guess that I was speaking about Final Fantasy VII, you get yourself a gold star.

Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth reinvented a game that is almost 30 years old. Modern technology allowed it to look beautiful and play smoothly. The switch to ARPG really helped open the game to players who are not keen on traditional turn-based mechanics. Plus, with modern technology, Square Enix was able to throw in award-winning motion capture and voice acting. Hudson and Co. have their blueprint for Fate of the Old Republic.

Star Wars on the big and small screens has been somewhat shaky recently. However, Star Wars games over the past decade have been pretty on point. Sure, there have been a few misses or two (eg, Star Wars Hunters and the Battlefront 2 lootbox debacle), but overall, Star Wars titles have had good stories and great gameplay. From the Fallen Order series to Outlaws, the longevity of Star Wars: The Old Republic, plus all the great LEGO games, gamers heading to a galaxy far, far away have rarely been disappointed.

What also really helps the case for Fate of the Old Republic is how many modern spiritual successor games are successful. Games like Bioshock (System Shock), Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild (Ocarina of Time), Elden Ring (Dark Souls/Demon Souls) come to mind. They all took games that had limited technology, moved the story forward while also creating new experiences with modern mechanics. Hudson aims to do the same.

A Game for All Fans

Casey Hudson and Arcanaut Studios have a big task ahead of them. With the model of the recent Final Fantasy VII games, the modern technology at their disposal, and the voice of the fans, the model for how to make a modern RPG that fans love is right in front of them. Making a game like Knights of the Old Republic but for the modern gamer with modern mechanics that anybody can pick up and play, is a winning formula. As a long-time gamer, I grew up on turn-based RPGs. I understand they are not for everyone, and the menus can often be overwhelming in battle. So, all gamers and every Star Wars nerd rejoice! We are getting the game we deserve.

Star Wars: Fate of The Old Republic still has no release date. Check out the website and stay with Nerd Reactor for more updates on the game as they are given to us.