Aspyr’s KOTOR remake is a timed PS5 exclusive at launch, despite original KOTOR games having been Xbox console exclusives for four generations. Other details about the KOTOR remake have been slim, though that hasn’t stopped rampant speculation and rumors.
YouTuber MrMattyPlays previously claimed that the Star Wars: KOTOR reboot will stray from its strict RPG elements, adding in a more action-focused combat style. The original KOTOR games had turned-based combat, in which players mapped out each turn before combat commenced. That style, however, has been somewhat disregarded in recent RPGs, with simultaneous or action combat dominating the industry. Though that massive change might worry fans of the original game, Aspyr has been working closely with the KOTOR franchise for a while – having developed all its port work – which could mean KOTOR’s changes won’t be too drastic or stray from the original’s charm. It was also rumored that Aspyr acquired BioWare talent for KOTOR's remake, which adds to the studio’s credibility in properly rebooting a fan-favorite series.
According to MrMattyPlays, shared by Jakemanv3 on Reddit, the KOTOR remake will have different play modes inspired by some of the biggest action games in the industry. MrMattyPlays claims that an anonymous source – who has correctly revealed rumors such as KOTOR’s announcement date – identified that the game remake will have an action combat style as opposed to KOTOR’s original turn-based combat, and that "for inspiration," the developers "looked at God of War [and] Nioh." This is seemingly corroborated by a Combat Designer job listing at Aspyr, which includes responsibilities involving action combat design. MrMattyPlays said that his source also claimed that the game may have various play modes, but did not specify what those modes are. He did speculate those modes may be similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, in which players can slow down time while they fight. It’s possible that KOTOR remake's players will be able to choose between turn-based combat or action-style combat, or switch between the two seamlessly during the game.
See the post on Reddit here, or watch the YouTube video here.
Developer Aspyr's history with KOTOR games is a longstanding one, with the team recently having ported the original to the Nintendo Switch. Therefore, it may seem natural for the KOTOR remake to have multiple play modes, giving players more of a choice between turn-based combat sequences or action-style combat. FF7R had a classic mode and a normal battle mode, with the former allowing players to watch the battles unfold on their own, whereas the latter gave players real-time control over attacks, defense, and abilities.
While MrMattyPlays has revealed correct information in the past, the rumor should be taken with a grain of salt. Without an official announcement from Aspyr, there is no confirmation that the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Remake will make use of separate play modes. If it does, it’s not clear what those play modes will look like - though there are many ways Aspyr could incorporate action elements in KOTOR's remake.
Source: MrMattyPlays, Aspyr (via Jakemanv3/Reddit)
