In the early 2000s, my Star Wars fandom was at its peak. That’s not to say I hate the current form of Star Wars, as I actually love it a lot, but the level of effort I put into it back in this era was unimaginable. Between the prequel movies and the mountain of amazing video games, I was in a mood for fun.
Another ongoing saga in George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away that I particularly liked was Knights of the Old Republic. The first one is one of my favorite games of all time, and I believe that Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords is an underrated masterpiece. One game I wish I had an idea for was a third KOTOR title, but due to a lot of confusing business decisions and changing priorities, that’s not going to happen.
I followed the persistent rumors of the proposed Knights of the Old Republic III for years, waiting and hoping that it would finally be shown at E3 or some other trade event. Those events came and went, with KOTOR III not showing at all, until LucasArts illegally canceled it by showing off an MMO known as The Old Republic in 2008.
In the years since then, what would become KOTOR III still hurts. If things had gone according to plan, we would have seen what would have been one of the best Star Wars games ever made. Instead, we are left with a tale that will remain unfinished, and a cliffhanger ending that will remain unresolved.
The Console Generation is Far, Far Away
Despite the current status of the Xbox product, it was honestly one of the most exciting things in the world when it was first launched in 2001. Microsoft has secured some pretty amazing exclusives in retrospect, including several Star Wars games. Star Wars: Obi-Wan is an OG Xbox exclusive, but the one that still feels crazy to me today is Knights of the Old Republic.
Developed by BioWare, KOTOR was an Xbox exclusive with absolutely no chance of appearing on other consoles. Early in development, BioWare was told that they had to include 2002’s Attack of the Clones or set it before the events of the entire Skywalker Saga. They chose the latter, wisely avoiding any association with the films.
It allowed them to create a world that felt distinctly Star Wars, but also had its own sense of identity and place. It was familiar, but it felt like it could be its own world. It was really interesting, and I have many wonderful memories of KOTOR. My dad wasn’t a gamer, but he watched me play this game almost like a Star Wars movie that never existed. He was making all the narrative decisions, leaving the game to me.
Because of the strong, PC-centric nature of the Xbox, BioWare’s history of PC development made the console an easy choice. While the PlayStation 2 and GameCube were incredibly powerful, KOTOR’s deep ties to the original Xbox helped make the console a great option for anyone who played PC games at the time.
Knights of the Old Republic is always in the discussion for one of the best Xbox games of all time. The combination of its outstanding combat, complex story and impressive scale helped elevate it to a timeless classic. No other Star Wars game at the time could compete, and even modern games based on the franchise are now catching up to what it did.
A year later
Knights of the Old Republic was a huge success, shipping nearly one million units within its first five months. A sequel was off the radar of LucasArts, who commissioned Obsidian to take on the project. BioWare felt like they said all they needed to with the Star Wars story, instead they wanted to create their own scifi universe that would become Mass Effect.
Another important factor in BioWare’s move was LucasArts’ tight deadline. They wanted this game for one year, no questions asked. Wanting more creative freedom, BioWare passed and Obsidian took control of the project. Against all odds, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords will meet its proposed launch date, hitting the streets on December 6, 2004.
While the PlayStation 2 and GameCube were incredibly powerful, KOTOR’s deep ties to the original Xbox helped make the console a great option for anyone who played PC games at the time.
The debate about whether KOTOR II is better than the original will continue until the end of time. As much as I like Sith Lords, it can’t be clear how different the two games are. The Sith Lords were brilliant in their examination of the complex realities of the Force itself, considering the hubris of trying to control something powerful, marking the Jedi and the Sith as almost two sides of the same coin.
KOTOR’s darker, more sophisticated take on Star Wars could have a huge impact on the current state of the franchise. The Sith Lords was one of the first Star Wars stories to really delve into the harsh, dark realities of the Jedi. It also ended in something of a cliffhanger, leaving an open note just begging for a crescendo.
The Unfinished End
After the completion of The Sith Lords, the Obsidian team was looking to complete the trilogy that started all the way back in 2003 with KOTOR I. The stage was honestly and truly set, as the game was ready to explore the never-before-seen worlds that existed in the darkest corners of the Star Wars galaxy.
Revan’s fate was in the hands of the Exile, as the Sith Lords spent a long time planning their inevitable meeting in chapter three. Obsidian enjoyed exploring the worlds that exist beyond the Outer Rim, in what is known in the Star Wars lore as Unknown Space. This is where Revan and Dingingsa were destined to meet.
The Sith were also set to be the main antagonist of the game, as KOTOR III planned to explore the darkest, most gruesome forms of the long-running Star Wars villains. It was really setting you up for some pretty dark places, as Obsidian creative director Chris Avellone made clear. The goal was to end the story, pitting Revan and the Exile against some of the most evil Sith Lords the Sith Lords had ever seen.
Team members from KOTOR I was scheduled to return, including Bastilla and Carth. Overall, KOTOR III was intended to wrap up both the current trilogy while leaving room for much more. It really seemed like KOTOR had everything you needed, and the sky was the limit.
KOTOR’s darker, more sophisticated take on Star Wars would have a huge impact on the franchise’s current state.
Unfortunately, it was a story we never saw. Changing priorities at LucasArts and several failed projects put KOTOR III in serious trouble, and it was eventually canceled in favor of The Old Republic. Sadly, the studio just saw a lot of money in an ongoing MMO as opposed to a single RPG.
We may never know what KOTOR III would have been. It’s possible Casey Hudson will use flashy elements of what KOTOR III would be in Star Wars: The Future of the Old Republic, but its place in the timeline makes it impossible for any kind of direct continuity. Instead, all we’ll ever show in KOTOR III are Obsidian’s voices and a few fans who continue to work on fan projects to this day. It’s a story that never got a chance to be finished, and that’s unfortunate.
