The struggles and successes of SWTOR

There’s a new op-ed piece over at Gamasutra in which the author — an occasional MMO player — takes a critical look at Star Wars: The Old Republic five years into the game. Of particular interest to the author is SWTOR’s recent expansions and the shift of this MMO’s design and delivery.

“Its latest expansions are vintage BioWare storytelling that are worthy of being given the much-coveted title of KotOR 3,” the author writes. “EA finally let BioWare be BioWare by allowing them to essentially build out a single-player RPG story in the middle of an MMO, complete with consequential moral choices, romance, and something approximating narrative depth. But this also represents a certain concession on BioWare’s part to the limitations of the genre.”

While praise is given to SWTOR’s move to more morally grey storytelling, its alt-friendliness, and even the general design of the galactic command system, the author jabs at the title’s harsh business model and the problems of said galactic command system as it stands. The conclusion is that SWTOR is one of the better MMOs out there right now and can still become something great.

“There is a beauty and boldness to this game that transcends any poor development choice or cash grab,” she concludes.

SWTOR “won” both the Massively staff award and community pick for Worst MMO Business Model of 2016.