Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic May Be Hiding Its True Villain in Plain Sight

Anything mentioned about Fate of the Old Republic's story or characters is pure speculation. The trailer is deeply compelling, but it also hardly offers any real hints at what to expect. Despite its vagueness, there are some potential clues in the trailer that could be teasing Arcanaut Studios' plans. Like I said, it's important to remember that this is all speculation, but Fate of the Old Republic's story may be headed in the opposite direction of KOTOR. Even though Arcanaut Studios is claiming that Fate of the Old Republic is a spiritual successor and not a direct sequel, there are already some interesting ties to Darth Revan that could ultimately hint at the main character's allegiance.
In the Fate of the Old Republic trailer, the main focus is on a mysterious female force user piloting a ship to a barren planet. She lands, leaves the vehicle, and with two companions in tow, makes her way to a giant ship crash that can be seen in the foggy distance. After entering the ship, she comes across some kind of enemy force that is barely shown and draws her lightsaber. That's pretty much all the details fans have to go off of, but there are some key details to consider. First off, the design of the small ship she drives looks more in line with Sith vessels. Also, the overall vibe of the trailer is quite dark. From the drab, rainy planet she lands on to the way she carries herself, Fate of the Old Republic's first footage feels more like the introduction of a Sith Lord than any kind of Jedi.
Yes, her lightsaber is blue, but this could also hint at the game allowing players to choose to follow the Dark Side or the way of the Jedi. Choosing a side of the Force to align with is a key feature in KOTOR. However, this time, it could throw players into the shoes of a Sith, and over time, you get to decide if your character will continue to be loyal to the faction or turn and embrace the Jedi Order. Director Casey Hudson has already confirmed that Fate of the Old Republic will share KOTOR's choice-driven gameplay, stating, "Our goal is developing the kind of games I love making: emotionally powerful, cinematic adventures driven by player agency, narrative depth, and immersive world-building." A lot of fans have been craving a new strong Star Wars RPG, and a story that flips much of the franchise on its head by having players live as a Sith straight out the gate would be a bold, but thrilling, move.
Although much of the story is still a mystery, Hudson has confirmed that the game takes place at the end of the Old Republic era. The main description shared about the game states that players will "step into the role of a Force user on a journey through a galaxy on the edge of rebirth." That rebirth is likely the fall of the Old Republic that saw the Sith rise into power. At the end of this era, the Sith gained control of Coruscant and took over the Jedi Temple, marking one of the darkest points in the galaxy's history. While the exiled Jedi forces ultimately defeat the Sith, the end of the Old Republic is defined by the Dark Side briefly gaining the upper hand, which puts Fate of the Old Republic in a fascinating point of the Star Wars timeline.
Fans well-versed in KOTOR's lore have already pointed out that the crashed ship in Fate of the Old Republic's trailer looks an awful lot like Darth Revan's Leviathan. Revan captained The Leviathan during the Mandalorian Wars, and Fate of the Old Republic's trailer makes it seem like the main character is specifically searching for this ship. This raises plenty of questions. Why The Leviathan? What could they be searching for? Are they trying to learn about Darth Revan's legacy? Of course, this ship's design could merely be a coincidence, but considering that Casey Hudson is leading development, it feels intentional. If Fate of the Old Republic's main character starts out as a devoted Sith, then it could pave the way for some mentions of Darth Revan's conflict-filled life.
It's unclear if Fate of the Old Republic will send players on a mystery to uncover Darth Revan's legacy, but that would further play into the game's potential to experiment with the choice between Dark and Light. Even if Darth Revan's story is only a small piece of the larger puzzle, Fate of the Old Republic could serve as a compelling mirror image to his character arc.
Darth Revan began as one of the best Jedi Knights of his time, but he was corrupted by Emperor Vitiate. A protagonist who is technically the villain but can choose to side with the Jedi would be a fun way to flip the narrative that KOTOR is so beloved for. When it comes to gameplay, choice is definitely going to be important, but if my theory happens to be correct, a decision-based game where the Jedi are first seen as the enemy faction has the potential to be incredibly cool and unique.
Depending on a player's choice, Fate of the Old Republic's main character could either go on a journey of redemption where they help the Jedi save the galaxy from Sith control or succumb to the Dark Side even more and become a powerful and feared leader. Fate of the Old Republic's release date is years away, so it will be a while before Arcanaut Studios offers any further details. As of now, all of this is purely speculation, but it's still fun to think about the possibilities.