Big Star Wars The Old Republic update breathes new life into the 2011 MMORPG

Star Wars The Old Republic update 7.6 brings new story content and dynamic encounters to enliven old planets in the free-to-play MMORPG.

I will always advocate for Star Wars: The Old Republic. While it never quite reached the heights of rivals like World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy 14, the MMORPG sequel to the KOTOR series is absolutely worth trying if you’re a Star Wars fan. It successfully transforms the classic BioWare and Obsidian RPGs into a multiplayer format while still retaining what made them special, and because it’s a free-to-play game you can jump in without any commitment. Even better, an Old Republic update has just been unveiled that freshens up its worlds, making now a great time to try it.

If you’re still quietly lamenting the lack of a KOTOR 3 but you’ve yet to play Star Wars: The Old Republic and its Jedi Knight campaign in particular, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. Don’t let the MMORPG format put you off, because it’s increasingly feasible to see all the good stuff as a solo player if you want to – and as a free Steam game you shouldn’t have trouble convincing a few friends to try it with you if you’re curious about the multiplayer elements.

Personally, I really love the conflict that completing missions in co-op brings to the format. I still have fond memories of my brink-of-retirement bounty hunter letting a mark go because they offered to buy their way out, much to the chagrin of my two much more morally absolute, Sith-steering friends who were both ready to unleash some Force lightning-based justice. If you’ve been contemplating giving The Old Republic a chance but just need that little push, here it is.

Star Wars: The Old Republic update 7.6 introduces new story chapter Galactic Threads, which follows immediately on from its Desperate Defiance arc. You’ll visit Hoth and Tatooine as you attempt to put a stop to Darth Malgus’s plans, while also investigating the mysterious dig site at Darth Nul’s temple of Elom.

What’s perhaps most enticing, however, is the new dynamic encounter system. Debuting on Hoth and Tatooine to accompany the Galactic Threads narrative, these missions are designed to reinvigorate activity on the in-game planets and ensure that something is always happening. Resembling world events, or FATEs in FF14, they should help make zones feel more alive than ever before.

Completing these encounters will net you a selection of special rewards including armor pieces, tech fragments, and commendations, with one rare instance even awarding a mini pet. Alongside this comes a new lair boss, the Propagator Core XR-53. This droid replicator is a remnant of the destroyed Emperor’s Fortress, and is busily attempting to fix itself by harvesting nearby resources – you’ll have to put a stop to it before it does so.

Beyond that, update 7.6 also includes a wealth of additional cosmetics including a new hair style free for all players. The price of all dyes on the Cartel Market has also been halved as the team looks into ways to make them more accessible, so if you’ve had your eye on a makeover for your favorite outfit, perhaps now is finally the time.

Star Wars: The Old Republic update 7.6 will be released in early December 2024. You can play the game free on Steam. Learn even more about what more features the patch will introduce in an extended blog post courtesy of developer Broadsword.

If you’re in the market for a completely fresh experience, here are the best new MMOs in 2024. Or you can explore that beloved galaxy far, far away in the best Star Wars games on PC.

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