LucasArts, BioWare announce alliance

KOTOR MMORPG rumors surge as two companies announce collaboration on a "ground-breaking interactive entertainment product."

Two weeks ago, a little-known game site claimed it had heard firsthand that BioWare's Austin studio is working on a massively multiplayer online role-playing game of the acclaimed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series. However, both BioWare and Star Wars rights-holder LucasArts refused to comment on the project, leading some to believe the Austin project is an MMORPG version of the forthcoming Mass Effect.

Today, though, the KOTOR MMORPG rumor flamed up again, fueled by the unveiling of an official alliance between LucasArts and BioWare. Early this morning, the two companies announced they are collaborating on "a ground-breaking interactive entertainment product" and launched a cobranded Web site, www.LucasArtsBioWare.com.

"Through our previous collaborations, we know that BioWare has an impressive ability to blend gripping stories with technological advancements, and we believe that our upcoming product will deliver an experience that will span the traditional boundaries of video game entertainment," LucasArts president Jim Ward said in a statement.

Unfortunately, despite Ward's kind words and similarly rosy statements from BioWare co-CEOs Ray Myuzka and Greg Zeschuk, next to no information was revealed about the game. "Details will be unveiled at a later date," was as specific as the announcement got. However, since LucasArts almost exclusively publishes games based on the Star Wars universe, the chances of the game in question being Star Wars-related are high.

Today's announcement did yield one important nugget of information. The mystery game will be published and developed by LucasArts and BioWare, which is now owned by Electronic Arts. When EA bought BioWare/Pandemic for $860 million earlier in the month, one of the three reasons it gave for its pricey purchase was the unnamed MMORPG in the works at BioWare Austin. The secretive studio was formed early last year and employs several former members of the KOTOR, Ultima Online, and Star Wars: Galaxies development teams. BioWare's MMORPG is scheduled to launch in 2009.

413 Comments

  • Lord_Foortwenti

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 5:27 pm PT

    I still don't understand why people have such an aversion to paying a monthly fee...

    it's like this people, w/ most games you pay $50-60 and get what, 40 hours MAX of content out of a AAA-game these days?

    But w/ an MMO you pay $40-50, get a single month in the box, then pay (usually) $15 a month to keep playing and get THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of hours of content to enjoy.

    You aren't paying $15 a month to continue playing only what you got in the box, you pay that monthly fee and you continue to get regular content updates, and to continue to develop as many characters, and experience, and explore as much (or as little) of the world as you want.

    So....

    $50-60 = 40 hours of content and done?
    or
    $40-50 + $15/month = thousands of hours of ongoing content

    It really isn't that hard to figure out.

    I personally can't freakin wait for SW:TOR, this game looks great. I'm also glad it isn't coming out for awhile as by the time it's out, I'll probably be ready to move on from WAR

  • xxLordDavidxx

    Posted Sep 8, 2008 4:07 pm PT

    KoToR3 would be much better yes.

    Even so, I'm unsubscribing to World of Warcraft if the KoToR MMO ever comes out immediately.

  • Hungry_bunny

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:38 am PT

    I don't like mmos

  • shinian

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    KoTOR3>KoTOR MMO but I'm getting either of them

  • Shaynas_Kitten

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:33 pm PT

    To hell with a KOTOR MMORPG! I want KOTOR 3!! No more wait, I say. A KOTOR MMORPG would be cool, but KOTOR 3 would be better.

  • TrissOfRedwall

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:06 pm PT

    This pretty much bugs me

  • VolcanicDemon

    Posted Feb 2, 2008 2:51 pm PT

    It could be KOTOR 3 and be an MMORGH. It could be World of KOTOR or World of Indiana Jones.

  • smeghead83

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    Well i would rather see KOTOR 3 (i wanna know how the story ends) i would also like a MMO, but not as much as KOTOR 3

  • eRAZOR2007

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 6:28 am PT

    If anyone can pull off a successful Starwars MMO then it would be Bioware. I really doubt that they are working on a Mass Effect MMO. The IP is just too young.

  • metal_4_life

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 9:36 am PT

    I'm not really into MMO's because of the stand-and-swing fighting, but if bioware can make the fighting anitmations like how they were in the KotOR's, then I would definitely check it out. Also I think a KotOR 3 should come out along with Mass Effect for the PC. Mass Effect for PC would be wonderful since Bioware's game engine has been very easy for people to mod, as in KotOR and NWN.

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Dec 26, 2007 9:08 pm PT

    I agree with Wpmiller78. If BioWare can pull out that magic and craft an MMO that could weave story-telling, RPG and addictiveness, I'm in.

  • eRAZOR2007

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 5:21 am PT

    This Wiki has more information about a possible KotOR MMO.

  • wpmiller78

    Posted Nov 29, 2007 2:31 pm PT

    Hopefully, if it is a KOTOR MMO, it will minimize stat management and the leveling-for-the-sake-of-leveling processes that bog down MMORPGs, kind of like Mass Effect and Jade Empire did for the single-player RPG. I would be interested to see how they plan on bringing a compelling story into an MMO, though. Any immersion that can be found always seems to be ruined by someone named "epicbawlz" who jumps alot and only speaks text message.

  • Bill900

    Posted Nov 14, 2007 6:08 pm PT

    I'd be happy with either a KOTOR MMORPG or KOTOR 3 I'm just happy Bioware is developing it

  • jonathanhawver

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 11:36 am PT

    Some of yall are ridiculous. KOTOR mmorpg will do fine. If you only want single player than all you have to do is the PvE and you dont have to meet up w/ other ass pirates if you dont feel compelled to. And for those star wars fans who are dying for a good epic multiplayer and solo game, like me, this could be perfect. Yall haters might just find yourselves more than satisfied w/ KOTOR mmorpg and if not, just play the Force Unleashed

  • jonathanhawver

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 8:12 am PT

    Some of yall are ridiculous. KOTOR mmorpg will do fine. If you only want single player than all you have to do is the PvE and you dont have to meet up w/ other ass pirates if you dont feel compelled to. And for those star wars fans who are dying for a good epic multiplayer and solo game, like me, this could be perfect. Yall haters might just find yourselves more than satisfied w/ KOTOR mmorpg and if not, just play the Force Unleashed

  • jonathanhawver

    Posted Nov 13, 2007 7:36 am PT

    Some of yall are ridiculous. KOTOR mmorpg will do fine. If you only want single player than all you have to do is the PvE and you dont have to meet up w/ other ass pirates if you dont feel compelled to. And for those star wars fans who are dying for a good epic multiplayer and solo game, like me, this could be perfect. Yall haters might just find yourselves more than satisfied w/ KOTOR mmorpg and if not, just play the Force Unleashed

  • hojo80

    Posted Nov 6, 2007 10:55 am PT

    first of all, KOTOR is an awesome series, first one was better, second was just as good but almost a carbon copy of KOTOR 1... and alot of people don't know that KOTOR 2 was developed by Obsidian not bioware. MMO KOTOR could be fun, but in the end it would just be a bunch of lightsaber wielding avatars running around with no real diversity in the character selection. even if you had other classes of warriors everyone would choose sith or jedi, cause that is star wars... a MMO of KOTOR would have to be supplemental to a single player game and i think bioware knows this, this will either not be a KOTOR game or it will be KOTOR but Bioware probably has the best grasp on the RPG these days and can very possibly make a good MMORPG

  • ruitaurus11

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    kotor 3 mmorpg won´t work, i´m not interested in paying monthly! Do yes kotor 3 but single player, now that will work!!!
    Lord raven 4ever

  • shakmaster13

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    i actually thought swg was good until they panicked when wow came along. from there it was straight downhill. they should make kotor 3 both an mmorpg and an rpg. kinda like diablo but having the online way bigger and more in depth like wow.

  • perpetualnoise

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 5:21 am PT

    LucasArts owns more then just Starwars, as much as i hate soe for ruining galaxies, who says the mmorpg will be starwars? could be Bladerunner, or alot of things, i want Bladerunner... that'd be sweet.

  • Hraktuus

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 1:05 am PT

    I do hope that a single player KOTOR III is released to finish the story. However, I will certainly play a KOTOR MMORPG if it is made. Bioware always delivers a quality product.

  • thewhiteninja5

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 11:49 pm PT

    kotor 3 HAD BETTER not be a MMO. That would freaking suck. Who wants to pay monthly to play a game that already SHOULD of been made?

  • shaneras

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 8:00 pm PT

    Why? Please BioWare, please jot make it KOTOR 3 MMO.

  • franalaloca

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 4:24 pm PT

    kotor III = mass effect

  • Bio_Sm0g

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 6:51 am PT

    mmorpg's are getting old... from runescape to WoW... and Everquest.... just same crap when it comes down to it.

  • ctg867

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 12:25 am PT

    Forget it, just forget all of this. Do you know what people want? Kotor 3. That's it. Come together, bring some great talent together, make Kotor 3. Hey, go a step further and make it better then the first two games. Maybe give me some new concepts or advance the battle system. Maybe use a thing or two from Mass Effect. But just keep it as is. You don't need a heavy, story driven CRPG becoming some crappy MMO.

  • cire5

    Posted Nov 3, 2007 5:03 pm PT

    kotor mmo wont work

  • HydroMat

    Posted Nov 3, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    kotor mmorpg with all the same bs elements of every over mmo... grind grind and more F****ng GRIND!!!

    ultima sucked, swg sucked.. and now i guess kotor is next on the bonfire. money talks..

    this will suck big!!

  • devilzrule27

    Posted Nov 3, 2007 8:53 am PT

    No KOTOR MMO!!! I hate MMOs but I love KOTOR!

  • celebnaur

    Posted Nov 3, 2007 12:42 am PT

    wii kotor mmorpg! a wii mmorpg! do it..... XD

  • siefier25

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 11:57 pm PT

    themidgethotel, I agree with you strongly. They need to make KOTOR III, not another sink hole MMO project...

  • GriffinLord602

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 9:51 pm PT

    An MMO of the incredible KOTOR games would be a credit to lucas arts, i think this game will be awsome, and id buy it when it comes out

  • MasterChief725

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    BioWare is makin a lot of headlines recently

  • kill-me

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 3:04 pm PT

    I hope it's Knights Of The New Republic.

  • Syliss

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 1:45 am PT

    stupid hype

  • themidgethotel

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 9:21 pm PT

    LucasArts already has Star Wars: Galaxies, and look how that turned out! KOTOR is best left single-player - better story experience in my mind.

  • Lumenadducere

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 5:05 pm PT

    If it really is a new MMO, I'm probably going to have to wind up subscribing to it. I trust BioWare to make a good game, regardless of the EA deal.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:45 pm PT

    I've never played an MMO in my life so I don't know what to expect if it is an MMO they're making. I loved KOTOR though.

  • USS-Voyager

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    Knights of the old republic wouldn't be as good online!

  • Megawizard1

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:09 pm PT

    If it IS a new MMO, let's hope it does better than the taken-over hunk of crap that is SW:G.

  • Shredding_Ninja

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 1:55 pm PT

    If it is an MMO the only way Ill play it is if its free and on the 360. I am DONE with paying for computer MMO's. It blows.

  • PainfuLstyLe

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 12:44 pm PT

    isnt there any possibility of being Kotor 3 instead of Kotor Online?

  • jonfigs

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 11:58 am PT

    If it is a good as WOW then I will happily play it!

  • SuperMooseman

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 11:08 am PT

    I hate LucasArts.
    Reference: No Monkey Island 5.

  • MrSickVisionz

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 9:23 am PT

    "A kotor mmo sounds awesome! But everyone should note they have been refering to it as a mmo not an mmorpg. Usually the case proves an mmo is an mmorpg but the fact that they seem to be refraning from saying the letters rpg make me think it isn't going to be an rpg...at least not in the traditional mmorpg sense."

    Thats what I'm hoping for. Bio-Ware's last two games have been blending action games with heavy RPG elements. Its like they aren't really true "RPGs" in the traditional sense, but they are action games that equally focus on story and combat. Rather than have the gamer play "scenes" from a story, like traditional action/adventure titles, they follow the RPG tradition of letting the gamer make the story and play the scenes.

    If Bio-Ware continues the trend they're on, I think this Star Wars game could end up playing like Jedi Knight/Academy with the the player controlled story of an RPG. That would be awesome. I sometimes hear people say, "technically every game is a RPG" but there has always been a distinct difference between "RPGs" and other genres. I feel that Bio-Ware is really trying to make that "technically every game is a RPG" statement into a reality. I'm eagerly anticipating this game. Especially if Mass Effect turns out to actually have good action/shooting gameplay along with the great story Bio-Ware is known for.

  • jzalesski

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 7:11 am PT

    WOW!! I love both these companies games now they are going to be working together!! I feel like I have a golden ticket!!! Can't wait to see what awesome game they are going to come up with! I hope it is a MMORP! The 360 is missing alot of RPG's and an MMORPG by these companys would be just heven on the 360!

  • platniumaura

    Posted Nov 1, 2007 4:57 am PT

    sounds great but, i dont really have time for an MMO. im a busy father with a full time job

  • sousuke223

    Posted Oct 31, 2007 8:29 pm PT

    this could be one of the greatest games ever both blizzard and bioware always make high class game whwere as blizzard made wow think about what bioware could make it in myopinion being one of the greatest rpg makers of all time do with an mmorpg it could be as epic as spore if bioware spend eneough time with it think about a glaaxy of kotor that would be insane if game inquestion is absed in ktoor unvierese eeither way whatever it is if its made by biwoare is will be very high class and polished

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