Star Wars: The Old Republic Is Getting A New Expansion Called Onslaught

It has been three years since BioWare’s venerable MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic got its last expansion pack. However, that’s finally going to change come September when the newly announced Onslaught expansion arrives. Onslaught will include a brand new storyline, new planets to explore, a new Tactical item category, and more. Best of all, it will be entirely free for subscribers.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Onslaught Expansion Announcement

Star Wars The Old Republic Onslaught Expansion

BioWare formally announced Onslaught via this recent post on The Old Republic’s website. According to the announcement post, Onslaught will introduce the following features and highlights:

  • A new storyline in which the war between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire reaches a boiling point. Interestingly, players will have the option to betray their class-associated faction if they wish, essentially acting as a double-agent.
  • New exploration zones such as the planet Onderon and the crime-ridden fueling station Mek-Sha.
  • A new solo/group Flashpoint (instanced dungeon) set on the planet Corellia.
  • A new Operation (raid) set on Onderon’s jungle-covered moon Dxun.
  • Auxiliary features such as a raised level cap, new class abilities, gear, and reworked itemization
  • A new ‘Tactical items’ gear type which synergizes with both new and existing set bonuses. Tactical items will significantly alter specific class abilities, allowing players to experiment with new builds and playstyles.

Onslaught Release Window

A specific release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic’s Onslaught expansion hasn’t yet been nailed down. However, BioWare has confirmed a September, 2019 launch window. Like previous Old Republic expansions, Onslaught will be a free add-on for those with an active game subscription.

Star Wars: The Old Republic has been steadily chugging along ever since its launch in 2011. Though the MMO launched as a strictly subscription-based game, it soon transitioned over to a pseudo-F2P model. Players can either play for free and unlock specific features with microtransactions or subscribe for a recurring monthly cost. Signing up for a subscription also unlocks perks such as enhanced XP gains, social features, and access to game expansions.

A few months ago, The Old Republic’s game director James Ohlen spoke candidly about trying to emulate World of Warcraft. Aside from The Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront 2 is also still doing pretty well with its own updates.