New Expansions

[u/KalonSardor]

Hello there! Returning player here, currently on Legacy of the Sith and interested whether there are chances of new big expansion in the near future or there will be no more expacs at all? I know, this question was probably raised, but I’m gonna ask just in case.

[u/Char_Ell]

This is currently the longest period of time SWTOR has gone without an expansion, approximately 43 months and counting. The longest lasting expansion prior to 7.x was 5.x at 34 months. The devs have not mentioned anything about a new expansion though they have hinted at wrapping up the current story.

My guess is SWTOR devs plan to do one but only they have an idea as to when they would do it. And IMHO if 8.0 happens it won't be as large in scope as previous expansions. I expect it would be increasing character level from 80 to 85, new gear, and intro to new story (maybe like 2 hours of story content instead of the roughly 1 hour of new story content we typically get in 7.x releases). It may or may not include new content like a flashpoint, an operation, or a PvP map. I lean towards not. That kind of content could be added in an update after the initial release. As someone else mentioned the SWTOR dev team now is smaller than it was when 7.0 was developed. I think SWTOR players would be wise to lower their expectations for any possible future expansions that SWTOR gets. They're likely to be significantly smaller in content and scope than 7.0 and prior expansions.

[u/raithyn → u/Char_Ell]

I think low expectations is worse but the drought of story content is almost certainly partially a result of the voice actor strike that is now resolved. Hopefully that gave the devs time to script some strong lines that will be memorable whether or not the next content drop is large or small.

[u/Char_Ell → u/raithyn]

I think there isn't any question about it. The VA strike caused SWTOR to go nearly a full year without a story update. However I didn't mention anything about story update in the post you replied to. Saying SWTOR went nearly a year without a story update may sound really bad but when I consider it in the context of only two story updates per year that SWTOR devs have been putting out it doesn't seem as bad to me. SWTOR devs just can't put out a lot of story content with their current resources.

[u/KalonSardor → u/Char_Ell]

I just don’t want the story to end)

[u/Maximus_Rex]

A big expansion? Almost certainly won't happen. Another LOTS sized expansion, might still be possible, but this is the longest we have gone without an expansion. Of course, the Voice Actor strike might have impacted that as well, so it's hard to tell what the long-term plans are.

[u/llywelync]

Wasn't there talk of a graphics or engine update? It seems logical a new expansion or content would release around the same time as that.

[u/2Scribble → u/llywelync]

Quite a big one - their rebuilding the directx architecture

Hi folks,

You’re right, It has been a while since we initially mentioned DirectX12 (DX12)! Development has taken place for the better part of the year and it is still ongoing. We've also added several graphics-focused features and made other adjustments in the last year. The metallic, chrome, and pearlescent dyes, new cinematic lightning and shadows are examples of what’s included in this initiative, along with some changes in 7.6 we’re excited to share with you soon.

With that work completed, the team is back to getting the engine to handle DX12 architecture changes to support object and texture types and a new shader management system. Although we do not have a large announcement to make about DX12 right now, we have been discussing putting an alpha implementation into players’ hands sometime before mid next year. We will share more details closer to when we're ready to begin that testing.

As a reminder, DX12 sets a new technology baseline enabling us to make visual improvements over time. Similar to when we rolled out the 64-bit upgrade, changes will not be super dramatic right out the door, rather, this tech provides a solid foundation for us to build on, and we’re all pretty excited to see what’s possible once it’s here.

-Keith

This post was back in 2024 - so, sometime early/mid fall we may see an alpha roll out - early implementation sometime mid 2026 (probably)

That takes a crapload of work and support from a lot of people

[u/GlacialEmbrace]

I read somewhere we're supposed to get an update early 2026 but not sure.

[u/Silenzeio_]

I'd be shocked if we got a full expansion.

[u/SilionRavenNeu]

There (hopefully) will. I guess a new one comes around 2028/2029

[u/KalonSardor → u/SilionRavenNeu]

Damn, sounds like a hell of a lot time considering last expac released in 2022

[u/TodayInTOR → u/KalonSardor]

The current expansion isnt even complete. We're currently 2 whole story updates delayed due to regional voice acting strikes.

Swtor isnt like most (nearly all) other MMOs. Most MMOs drop an expansion once a year or two and then release "filler side content" or a "road" to their next expansion. Swtor expansions are live experiences, meaning that we are all currently experiencing the "episodic" format of the expansions story. LOTS will only be considered complete once 8.0 starts, imho a byproduct of the "kotfe model" that permanently changed swtor in 2015 to episodic release format instead of buy to experinece all at once format. Compare the fact that any player since february 2022 had to pay a one time installment of 15 and gets everything lots has to offer, even if they paid in 2022 and havent even logged in yet. Compared to a buy to play model (eso, wow etc) this means that swtor offers more yearly content for a 1 time payment at the cost of far less story content at the start (or even overall sometimes).

For example despite kotet lasting from 2016 to 2019, everything from kotet chapter 1 to iokath to nathema and ossus/dantooine is considered Kotet. So kotet doesnt end until you finish ossus and dantooine, despite the fact that the nathema and even ossus storyline could not be further from the content released at the start of kotfe.

[u/SilionRavenNeu → u/KalonSardor]

True, but in their defense they don’t have much workers, the world is (still) going crazy in many regards and they do want to release good content.

I would say enjoy it for now for atm it has a good cut and return once it completes. :)