If you're a regular reader (hi, thanks, great to see you again, this weather, eh?) you'll know that we know that there's something going on at Aspyr Media right now, in relation to Star Wars. Specifically, in relation to the Star Wars gaming series, Knights of the Old Republic.
As we reported before, the Texan studio's recruitment of ex-BioWare staff and its previous history with the Star Wars franchise - Aspyr ported Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords to Linux and Mac, and developed the game's 2015 Steam release - sure do represent sizeable clues towards solving what appears to be less and less of a mystery.
Are we confident that Aspyr is working on either a new Knights of the Old Republic game, right now? Not just yet. Are we sure that it's likely? Absolutely. And we're not alone in feeling that way, as several reports have done the rounds in the last 24 hours concerning a prominent journalist's post on ResetEra, further fuelling these KOTOR-at-Aspyr rumours.
Jason Schreier, gaming reporter at Bloomberg, posted in a thread started by user Raigor about Aspyr's "major ongoing development project", a licensed title with a budget of $70 million. Raigor added, "Aspyr is known for Star Wars ports on Mac/Mobile and Switch." And yes, yes it is. And why add this Star Wars comment in the same post as the news of the big-budget game in the works if not to imply that it's Star Wars.
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To this, Schreier ("Press Sneak F*ck") first added a "Hmm", and then: "I don't think a single person in that thread guessed this." As in, nobody had guessed KOTOR. IDK about that, given the prior stories, but people have interpreted his comment as confirmation that it's on.
Now, Aspyr's porting record doesn't naturally put them front and centre for the development of an all-new KOTOR installment, as others in the thread are quick to point out: "LOL there's quite a difference between porting existing games and making a new one from scratch," comments one user.
Another, however, links to recent job adverts at the studio, and writes: "They are 100% making an original game, not a remaster. Hiring combat, level, and cinematic designers. All signs point to KOTOR from the insider hinting to the BioWare hires."
So what's the craic? Who can say for sure. All we do know is that a) folk would sure like some KOTOR back in their gaming lives, and b) Aspyr might well be the studio to deliver it. Personally, no smoke without fire, right? And there sure are (virtual, I mean, just virtual) plumes of the stuff rising from Aspyr's Austin headquarters, right now.
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