After Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Star Wars Outlaws, One Game Needs to Bring Balance to the Force

Key Takeaways

• Unlike the Star Wars Jedi series and Star Wars Outlaws, the KOTOR remake would allow gamers to play as a Sith.
• Star Wars Outlaws and the Star Wars Jedi game series set the stage for a playable Sith in the KOTOR Remake.
• The KOTOR remake’s delayed development is worrisome, but the game’s release is crucial now with similar game precedents.

The last five years have offered Star Wars fans and gamers several Star Wars games, with Respawn Entertainment’s Jedi: Fallen Order arguably paving the way for more by redeeming the franchise’s name in the gaming industry. Last April saw the release of Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order, and although its performance didn’t quite live up to expectations, it nonetheless sustained the hope that the industry would see more Star Wars games released that dared to innovate on an increasingly familiar world and formula. Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws is the most recent attempt to do this, putting players in control of a non-Jedi antihero and offering players an experience they aren’t used to having in the Star Wars gaming space.

Now, that the Star Wars Jedi series and Star Wars Outlaws have allowed gamers to play as a Jedi and a non-Force-using scoundrel, respectively, there may not be a better time for the release of the highly anticipated Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake. Unlike most Star Wars games, KOTOR presents players with the opportunity to play as a character smitten with the dark side of the Force, so launching it sooner rather than later could finish what Outlaws only started by offering players a much darker way to play.

The KOTOR Remake Is Needed Now More Than Ever

The KOTOR Remake Would Allow Players to Play as a Sith

One of the key differences between Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and other Star Wars games is that it allows players to explore the dark side of the Force. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor entertained this for a brief period in its third act by allowing players to “embrace the darkness” and go on a temporary dark side rampage. The Star Wars: The Force Unleashed series and Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith also gave players the option between light and dark side endings, but these choices only affected the outcome. KOTOR, on the other hand, lets players define their path throughout the game with its Alignment system, which is altered according to the choices they make.

Despite not being the only game to let players join the dark side of the Force, no game has ever done it quite like KOTOR. In light of that, now that gamers have had plenty of experience playing as a Jedi in the Star Wars Jedi series, and now an outlaw and scoundrel in Star Wars Outlaws, there’s a strong case for the KOTOR remake to be released very soon, as it would allow players to once again experience what it feels like to be in full control of a Sith character in a video game.

The KOTOR Remake’s Unfortunate Development Cycle Has Led to Unending Bad News

Unfortunately, despite persistent confirmations that the KOTOR remake is “alive and well,” according to Saber Interactive’s CEO, it has had one of the most arduous game development cycles in recent memory. Much of this is likely exacerbated by the fact that the KOTOR remake is so highly anticipated, so bad news of any kind can make the process seem like it has gone on longer than it actually has. Nevertheless, with very little to depend on in terms of concrete news, fear often creeps in that the KOTOR remake will never see the light of day.

Assuming the KOTOR remake truly is in an ongoing and healthy state of development, Star Wars Outlaws and the Star Wars Jedi series have broken ground for its arrival, providing it with what is arguably its best time to launch — or at least provide fans with a more extensive reveal than the 2021 teaser. The option to play as a Sith in the KOTOR remake is especially enticing now that players have had ample time to play as a Jedi and, more recently, a non-Jedi scoundrel.