Star Wars: The Old Republic

Lore & Background

The story takes place shortly after the establishment of a tenuous peace between the re-emergent Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, 300 years after the events of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The Jedi relocate from Coruscant to Tython, while the Sith control Korriban. Cinematic trailers depict events such as the Sith re-conquest of Korriban and an attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant led by Darth Malgus. The game features eight classes, each with a three-act storyline that progresses as the character levels up. Players join either the Republic or the Sith Empire, but may possess a morality anywhere along the light/dark spectrum.

Reader's Guide

Star Wars: The Old Republic is significant as one of the most expensive games ever developed, with an estimated $200 million budget. It achieved one million subscribers within three days of launch, making it the world's fastest-growing MMO at that time. Although it lost subscribers in subsequent months, it remained profitable and later adopted a hybrid free-to-play model. The game generated an estimated $139 million in additional revenues beyond subscriptions in 2013, and by October 2019 Electronic Arts announced it was approaching $1 billion in lifetime revenue. The game received positive reception upon release and has seen multiple expansions, technical updates, and graphical updates, as well as tie-in books and comics. Its fully voiced dialogue, companion system, and choice-driven storylines influenced later MMORPG design.

Did You Know?

• The game was announced on October 21, 2008.
• It had one million subscribers within three days of launch, making it the fastest-growing subscription MMO at the time.
• The game's development budget was estimated at $200 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever made.
• By October 2019, the game was closing in on a billion dollars in lifetime revenue.