Building a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars: The Old Republic emerged as one of the most ambitious massively multiplayer online role-playing games ever conceived, uniting BioWare’s expertise in narrative design with the expansive Star Wars universe. Its release in December 2011 marked the culmination of a development process that redefined expectations for online gaming. This journey, from initial concept to live service, reflects the creative ambition and logistical complexity of such an undertaking.
The origins of Star Wars: The Old Republic trace back to BioWare’s long-standing interest in creating an MMORPG, though the studio waited until securing what it deemed the ideal intellectual property, team, and partners. Following the success of Knights of the Old Republic in 2003, the Star Wars licence became a priority. James Ohlen, a veteran designer who had contributed to titles such as Baldur’s Gate and the original Knights of the Old Republic, was appointed game director. His vision centred on merging BioWare’s narrative-driven approach with an MMO's persistent, social world, a challenge that required balancing storytelling with multiplayer mechanics.
The scale of the project was unmatched at the time. Industry analysts estimated development costs between £115 million and £150 million, figures which positioned it as the most expensive video game yet produced. The BioWare Austin studio, established specifically for the project, dedicated years to its creation. By October 2008, the writing team had already spent over two years crafting what BioWare described as more story content than all their previous games combined. Daniel Erickson, lead writer, recalled early meetings in Austin where the team committed to licensing an established universe to avoid the burden of original worldbuilding. This decision allowed them to focus on expanding existing lore, a task supported by over 1,000 pages of documentation detailing everything from Sith architecture to planetary customs.
Initial plans for the game expanded considerably during development. While full voice acting for all characters was not originally intended, the team ultimately recorded hundreds of hours of dialogue, a feat unprecedented in MMOs. Companion characters, initially envisioned as a limited roster, grew to over 40 unique individuals, each with personal storylines and interactions. The eight class narratives, structured into three acts, were substantial; Erickson noted that the bounty hunter’s first chapter alone exceeded the length of the entire Knights of the Old Republic campaign.
Community engagement began years before release. Speculation intensified ahead of the official announcement on 21 October 2008, and when beta applications opened on 29 September 2009, traffic overwhelmed the website. Player feedback occasionally influenced design: when the class name “Jedi Wizard” drew criticism, a poll led to its redesignation as “Jedi Sage.” However, not all suggestions were adopted, as seen in the “Giant Hilt incident,” where developers maintained their aesthetic choice despite player objections to oversized weapon designs.
Cinematic trailers played a significant role in building anticipation. The first, Deceived, debuted at E3 2009, followed by Hope in June 2010 and Return at E3 2011. These vignettes, showcasing lightsaber duels and galactic warfare, highlighted the game’s cinematic aspirations and drew widespread attention.
Launching on 20 December 2011 in North America and Europe, with Oceania and Asia following on 1 March 2012, the game offered early access to pre-order customers from 13 December. Over 100 servers were deployed in North America to manage demand, though queues and registration issues still arose. The subscription-only model, described by BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk as a deliberate choice, initially attracted over a million subscribers within three days. Localisation efforts, spanning English, French, and German, were described by Ohlen as the largest such project in gaming history.
Critical reception was largely positive. The game earned a Metacritic score of 85, with praise directed at its voice acting, musical score, and narrative depth. Publications such as PC Gamer awarded 93/100, while IGN rated it 9.0/10. Contrasting views emerged, however: Eurogamer revised its score downward to 4/10, critiquing repetitive quest design. The game nevertheless secured accolades, including “Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay” at the Interactive Achievement Awards.
Post-launch updates addressed both content and functionality. The first major patch in January 2012 introduced new multiplayer operations, while April’s update added the Legacy system, enabling character lineage tracking. By June, features like a group finder and server transfers had been implemented. Despite initial subscriber declines, the 2013 transition to a hybrid free-to-play model proved successful, generating an estimated £110 million in additional revenue that year.
Fifteen years after its announcement, Star Wars: The Old Republic endures as a distinctive experiment in narrative-driven online gaming. Its development, marked by creative risk-taking and adaptation, illustrates the challenges of blending cinematic storytelling with MMO mechanics. While its trajectory included unforeseen evolutions, the game’s legacy lies in its attempt to honour both BioWare’s heritage and the enduring allure of a galaxy far, far away.
