Star Wars: The Old Republic Lead Writer Mourns Death of BioWare as Farewell Post Leaves Out MMO
BioWare announced its closure after more than 30 years in the gaming industry, with development on the next Mass Effect also ceasing. In the studio’s farewell statement, BioWare highlighted its most celebrated franchises, naming Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Anthem.
However, Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) was conspicuously absent from the announcement. Lead writer Caitlin Sullivan Kelly called out the omission via social media, expressing sadness that the long-running MMO was snubbed by its former developer.
SWTOR holds particular significance within BioWare’s portfolio. Released in 2011, the game was developed and operated by BioWare for 12 years before transitioning to Broadsword in 2023. During its tenure under BioWare, SWTOR accumulated more writing and voice work than any other game in the studio’s history, despite being handed off relatively recently. The MMO has now been running continuously for nearly 15 years.
The exclusion sparked discussion about how legacy projects and live-service games are often deprioritized in official narratives, even when they represent significant creative achievements. Kelly’s response highlighted the tension between SWTOR’s substantial contributions to BioWare’s creative legacy and the studio’s apparent willingness to overlook it in a final farewell.