The lead writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, Caitlin Sullivan Kelly, has shared her dismay that the MMO was not mentioned in BioWare's official statement acknowledging its closure. BioWare's farewell message listed titles such as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem, but omitted SWTOR.
Star Wars: The Old Republic was originally released in 2011 and developed by BioWare. The studio managed the game until it was transferred to Broadsword in 2023. During its 12 years under BioWare's stewardship, SWTOR accumulated more writing and voice work than any other BioWare title in history.
Kelly described the omission as "heartbreaking" in a social media post. "No mention of the game that's been going for almost fifteen years, that supported the studio and all of its projects with income and manpower and time (sometimes to our own detriment)," she stated.
While SWTOR may not have achieved the same player numbers as titans like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV, it sustained a consistent player base and generated revenue throughout its existence. However, reports indicate that BioWare did reassign members of the SWTOR team to assist with projects like Anthem, which experienced a swift failure. Despite these diversions, SWTOR continued to operate.
Reasons for SWTOR's exclusion from BioWare's statement remain speculative, with potential legal considerations given the studio no longer operating the game being a possibility. Kelly expressed her personal sadness, noting that SWTOR was the game that inspired her to become a game developer and that she began playing it specifically because it was a BioWare title. "I can’t help but feel sad that the studio a lot of us loved even before we worked there leaves us out of the history books," she concluded.
This news follows broader reporting on BioWare's closure, including industry reactions and discussions about the potential future of franchises like Dragon Age and Mass Effect.