Casey Hudson is directing a new Star Wars game titled Fate Of The Old Republic, a spiritual successor to Knights of the Old Republic, revealed in December 2025 with a CG trailer meant to generate hype and recruit talent [1].
In a May 2026 interview, Hudson said he plans to keep the core development team small to avoid challenges seen in large BioWare projects, using contractors for co-development instead of expanding permanent staff [1, 2]. He cited the rising costs of AAA game development, noting figures like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's $700 million budget and Grand Theft Auto 6's rumored multi-billion dollar cost, as motivation to limit payroll expenses [2].
Hudson sharply criticized generative AI in game development, calling it creatively soulless and expressing no plans to rely on it for Fate Of The Old Republic [1, 2]. Other industry veterans like Ken Levine and Peter Molyneux have also voiced skepticism about AI quality in gaming [2].
The game will focus on a manageable length rather than overly long gameplay, with replayability coming from multiple storylines [1]. Hudson expects to release the game before 2030, aiming to avoid development cycles lasting five to seven years [1].
The December 2025 reveal launched recruitment efforts alongside public excitement [1]. The next major update is expected as development progresses toward the targeted release window [1].
