Weeks after a report revealed that BioWare was planning to transition development of Star Wars the Old Republic to a third party studio, Broadsword, the deal has been officially announced.
It was already understood that the teams were in negotiations to finalize the deal, so the final confirmation isn't a surprise. Executive Producer Keith Kanneg had already confirmed that things were in the works for the move, as he assured the community over the month that there was “a new beginning” on the way. Kanneg released a new statement today after the deal was officially confirmed, along with BioWare General Manager Gary McKay on what’s ahead now that SWTOR won’t be on their plate.
“BioWare is focused on being a leader in developing immersive, emotionally charged, single-player games, with teams primarily in Austin and Edmonton. This means a renewed focus on our two key franchises: Dragon Age and Mass Effect,” he says.
Broadsword, which currently runs a few older games like Dark Age of Camelot, will be a good fit, according to McKay.
“Both the Broadsword studio and SWTOR team members will be joining forces and working tirelessly to support “every player, every day,” ensuring that these worlds and these communities continue to thrive and grow. Their Founder and President, Rob Denton, even has direct experience with SWTOR, having helped lead the team during the development and launch of the game during his time at EA.”
Most of the team will move to Broadsword, with some layoffs also happening. Kanneg continues emphasizing that the development plans the team had will remain intact.
“We are excited about the future of SWTOR, and once we get our feet firmly planted at Broadsword, we look forward to sharing plans for game direction and improvements. Until then, rest assured that all the current plans are still in motion!” he notes. This means cloud game servers, continued modernization, story and other development plans, and more.
Almost 12 years after launch, BioWare is handing the development of Star Wars: The Old Republic to Broadsword, who will continue to grow and evolve the game.https://t.co/itHPMQhdS8#SWTOR pic.twitter.com/zADKhxGtVM
— BioWare (@bioware) June 27, 2023
Once they all get settled in at Broadsword, and the transition is complete, they’ll begin to hammer out more plans and timeframes. They are officially confirming a big transition, Kanneg promises that the team will continue keeping the community informed on plans and what to expect from the new partnership for Star Wars: The Old Republic..
