Some major studio moves are apparently taking place within the EA video game umbrella. This time is has to do with one of their biggest IPs, Star Wars. The game, in particular, is Star Wars: The Old Republic, an MMORPG which has been going strong since late 2011. According to an inside source associated with IGN, EA is nearing an agreement on moving all of the title’s software, future development and maintenance from original developer BioWare and place it in the hands of a third-party; Broadsword Online Games.

EA is nearing an agreement to move the ongoing development and operation of MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic to Broadsword Online Games, as BioWare Focuses on Mass Effect and Dragon Age https://t.co/uC2KT0kFzd pic.twitter.com/bp4ZNQKigT

— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 6, 2023

After IGN posted the story, they received a statement from the company with an official statement. “We’re evaluating how we give the game and the team the best opportunity to grow and evolve, which includes conversations with Broadsword, a boutique studio that specializes in delivering online, community-driven experiences,” said EA. Considering the close relationship that EA has with Broadsword, and the fact that the studio manages the online development for Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot, this move is not terribly surprising.

As of this writing, Star Wars: The Old Republic has a core staff of just over 80 people, with more than half expected to move to Broadsword and continue working on the MMORPG. The remaining developers face a potential layoff if they’re unable to allocate within another area of EA’s umbrella. As we mentioned earlier, Star Wars: The Old Republic launched in late 2011, with a considerable amount of hype behind it. The game has since seen waves of its player count go up and down, with the title still being generally played by a good amount.

With the game now being given to a different studio, this will more than likely free up a lot of time and recourses for BioWare to continue working on the next entries for Mass Effect and Dragon Age, both of which are slowly taking shape and could see a release time frame in the foreseeable future.