The next story update to Star Wars The Old Republic, Patch 7.3, is coming on June 13th along with a new Flashpoint, Economics, PvP and Combat Style Changes and the usual bug fixes!
SWTOR 7.3 coming June 13th
Amidst the drama and chaos with the reports of BioWare handing over Star Wars The Old Republic over to Broadsword, comes the long-awaited announcement of SWTOR Update 7.3 set to release on June 13th.
SWTOR Community manager JackieKo announced it on the forums:
“Following up on this timeline. Game Update 7.3: Old Wounds is targeted to go live on June 13th and patch notes will become available the day before.”
This is the first real (hopefully) large content update in 2023 and when the devs announced it back in the beginning of May with a live stream, we learned that 7.3 will mark a shift in content release standards.
I’m talking about a new Flashpoint coming out with 7.3, but it will not be part of the core story path of the game. Instead, it will be an addition and expansion of the story indirectly.
SWTOR 7.3 is titled “Old Wounds” and its solo story will take you back to Voss where you will start the new main mission and be able to pick up a few side missions as well.
The focus of the story returns to Malgus with cameos from the Mandalorians as well as the Twi’leks, Sa’har and Ri’kan Kateen. It seems almost like the inverse of the last update’s story, Showdown on Ruhnuk, where we had the opposite.
Here is a bullet point summary of what new content and improvements or changes to expect:
- “Old Wounds” Solo Storyline on Voss
- Shrine of Silence FP
- PvP Changes
- Balance Changes
- Credit Economy Changes with more planned for the future
- New CM items
For more details, you can read the SWTOR 7.3 Livestream recap. On Monday, we will have a full breakdown of everything coming in this update along with dedicated guides for all new content and systems.
Regarding the Broadsword transfer
With so little officially announced by the SWTOR dev team and leadership, I cannot really tell you much. Unlike most of my Jedi characters in the game, in real life, I strongly hate talking and analyzing unofficial information. What is officially stated and confirmed is too little for now.
If there was any doubt in you that this is just a rumor, know that it’s not. The transition will happen. The SWTOR Game Director Keith Kanneg confirmed it in his forum comments in the past two days.
“No doubt you’ve read the reports that Electronic Arts is evaluating opportunities to give the game and the team a new home, which includes conversations with Broadsword. Unfortunately, we can’t answer any questions you may have at this time.
Game Update 7.3’s June release will remain unchanged and patch notes will be released a day before per usual.
All future content updates are also moving forward as planned, including 7.3.1 and 7.4. We are looking forward to the future of Star Wars: The Old Republic and its continued growth.”
– Keith Kanneg’s Forum Post.
There are reasons why he and his team cannot talk about it, but they are not because the reports are fake. If they were, Keith’s response would have been more in line with what CD Projekt Red did last week in response to the rumors that Sony is buying them.
This message started a wave of drama and anger on the forums with wild guesses from players what is happening and why.
Keith had to come back and post another comment in an attempt to calm things down. He still did not say much, but his attempt to sound more positive and reassuring was clearly noticeable:
“Whoa whoa everyone… I was hoping me telling you about the upcoming releases would help you understand this is a new beginning, not the end.
We have more stories, modernizations, and MMO content already being planned out beyond 7.4. While details are being discussed and finalized behind the scenes, let’s not spin this into incorrect theories. I am asking you to hang tight and we’ll follow up later with more details when we can.”
– Keith Kanneg’s 2nd Forum Post.
We can expect that once this transfer happens, there will be some technical details that will likely cause delays in release dates for the next updates.
On Monday we will also have a longer version of our take on the reported switch of ownership for SWTOR and how BioWare’s and EA’s giving the title to Browdsword will impact the game and you.
The immediate impact will likely be nothing more than a delay of the already announced 7.3.1 and 7.4 updates. In the longer term, in 2024 and beyond, we will have to wait and see.
Broadsword is not a large studio, but it is not taking the game from the SWTOR dev team. All signs (including the way Keith structured his posts) point to the fact that BioWare’s current SWTOR team is intended to move along with the game and continue to support it.
How many will move, how well will the game be supported, how much freedom will they have after they are no longer under EA’s hood? These are things I and you will have to wait at least a little bit longer to learn.
In the meantime, if you have been hungry for content, 7.3 strives to deliver it and it’s less than a week away.
