Players of Star Wars: The Old Republic are paying tribute to BioWare following EA's recent announcement of the studio's closure. While the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, originally launched in 2011, is now maintained by Broadsword Games, BioWare was responsible for its core story content and initial development until 2023. The SWTOR community has gathered on Reddit to share their respects.
A Reddit post featuring BioWare's farewell statement to the SWTOR community has garnered thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments. Users have expressed deep sadness and nostalgia for the studio, crediting BioWare with creating some of the most acclaimed RPGs in gaming history, including the Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age series.
One commenter lamented the perceived corporate mismanagement leading to the studio's downfall, stating it was sad to see such a studio close after years of delivering "great RPGs at a steady pace." Another expressed devastation, highlighting the studio's legacy and wishing for more titles like Jade Empire. A recurring sentiment among some fans is the peculiar circumstance of Star Wars: The Old Republic outliving its original developer, with one user noting the "strange timeline."
Despite the somber mood, some players have expressed gratitude that Broadsword Games has taken over the ongoing development of SWTOR, with one user noting they were no longer upset about the transition, and another thankful that the MMO continues to exist.
BioWare's closure has prompted widespread reactions across the internet, with many lamenting the loss of the studio and the cancellation of future projects, including a planned Mass Effect 5. For now, however, Star Wars: The Old Republic endures, offering players hundreds of hours of BioWare's signature storytelling.