BioWare’s beloved MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic, is in the process of transitioning to third-party control as BioWare concentrates on the development of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, according to reports by IGN.
Negotiations are reportedly underway between EA and third-party studio Broadsword Online Games, known for its work on Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot. Insiders suggest a deal could be finalized within the month. If successful, the agreement would pass the reins of Star Wars: The Old Republic’s ongoing development and operation to Broadsword Online, helmed by Rob Denton, the former co-founder of Mythic Entertainment and ex-BioWare VP, who contributed to the game’s inception.
In a statement released following the news, EA said, “Star Wars: The Old Republic remains a success and continues to grow its dedicated and passionate community 12 years post-launch. Conversations with Broadsword, a boutique studio specializing in online, community-driven experiences, are part of our initiative to provide the game and its team the best opportunity to evolve.”
Currently, Star Wars: The Old Republic’s core development team comprises approximately 70 to 80 individuals, with over half predicted to transition to Broadsword as part of the agreement. Those remaining with EA will have the opportunity to seek roles within the company, but layoffs may be on the horizon for those who don’t.
Fans can rest assured that the game will continue to receive planned content updates like the forthcoming patch 7.3 and the next PvP season. EA will maintain its role as publisher of the game, while BioWare redirects its resources toward the development of single-player franchises Dragon Age and Mass Effect. Both series announced new titles in 2018 and 2020 respectively, but further details have remained sparse.
This shift in management occurs against a backdrop of leadership changes at BioWare, most notably with the Dragon Age: Dreadwolf project, which has seen an exodus of senior leadership and whose QA workers voted to unionize last year.