Casey Hudson Pushes Back On Long Wait Claims For Fate Of The Old Republic

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic has entered development under the direction of Casey Hudson, with the veteran designer pushing back against claims that the game could be more than four years away. The project was announced during The Game Awards and immediately drew attention, both for its connection to the legacy of Knights of the Old Republic and for Hudson’s return to the Star Wars universe after years away.

Speculation about a distant release window followed quickly after confirmation that the game remains in early development. That concern was amplified by the fact that Arcanaut Studios, the developer behind the project, was only recently formed. Hudson addressed those concerns directly in a public response, making clear that the timeline circulating online does not reflect the studio’s plans.

He wrote on social media:

“Don’t worry about the ‘not till 2030’ rumors. Game will be out before then. I’m not getting any younger!”— Casey Hudson

Hudson’s involvement is central to the project’s significance. He served as director on the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and later led BioWare through the Mass Effect trilogy. His return to Star Wars was not widely expected, particularly after the closure of his previous studio last year following funding difficulties tied to an unrelated project. Arcanaut represents a fresh start, built specifically to pursue a focused slate of narrative-driven games.

According to information shared through StarWars.com and Lucasfilm Games, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is still in its early stages. That status has been openly acknowledged by the development team, but it has not been positioned as a sign of stagnation or uncertainty. Instead, Hudson and Lucasfilm executives describe the project as deliberately structured from the outset, with long-term planning already in place.

The game is described as a single-player, narrative-driven action RPG and a spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic rather than a direct sequel. It is set during the Old Republic era, at a point described as a galaxy on the brink of rebirth. Players will take on the role of a Force user, with story progression shaped by choices that pull the narrative toward light or darkness.

Hudson has emphasized that this is a new story, built to stand on its own while respecting the foundation established by earlier titles. He has stated that the goal is not to recreate KOTOR, but to apply decades of design experience to a modern interpretation of what a choice-driven Star Wars RPG can be. The development team includes veteran designers and storytellers assembled specifically for this project.

Arcanaut Studios was co-founded by Hudson this year following renewed discussions with Lucasfilm Games. Those conversations, according to Hudson, led to the opportunity to return to Star Wars under conditions that aligned with his creative priorities. He has described the studio’s mission as building cinematic, emotionally grounded experiences driven by player agency and narrative depth.

Lucasfilm Games leadership has publicly backed that direction. Douglas Reilly, Vice President and General Manager at Lucasfilm Games, has said the project is about honoring the legacy of classic Star Wars RPGs while creating something new within the same tradition. He has noted that the Old Republic era offers creative freedom, allowing developers to explore original stories without conflicting with established film or television continuity.

The reveal trailer shown at The Game Awards offered only brief glimpses of tone and setting, focusing on atmosphere rather than gameplay systems. Lucasfilm and Arcanaut have not committed to specific platforms or a release window beyond Hudson’s confirmation that the game will arrive before the end of the decade.

Hudson has also addressed the challenges inherent in large-scale RPG development. He has spoken about the need for clear creative alignment, disciplined production planning, and internal communication across teams. Those priorities, he said, are the result of lessons learned across decades of directing ambitious projects.

While details about characters, companions, and combat systems remain under wraps, Hudson has indicated that more information will be shared once the team is ready to show meaningful progress. For now, the focus remains on building the foundation of a project intended to carry the weight of a beloved legacy without being constrained by it.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic marks both a return and a reset for Hudson. It reconnects him with a franchise that shaped his career while placing him at the head of a newly formed studio navigating the realities of modern game development. His public response to release speculation suggests confidence, but also urgency, as Arcanaut moves forward with one of the most closely watched Star Wars game projects in years.