Benjamin Bartlett
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Cancelled DLC
In a surprising turn of events, developer Aspyr and game publisher Saber Interactive are facing a class action lawsuit over the cancelled “The Sith Lords” DLC for the Nintendo Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. The lawsuit, titled “Malachi Mickelonis v. Aspyr Media, Inc. et al,” was filed in July by a group of Star Wars fans in the US who felt deceived by the lack of promised content.
The Allegations
The lawsuit claims that Aspyr and Saber Interactive advertised the game on the Nintendo Switch e-Shop as having “never-before released ‘Restored Content DLC'” and that this content was a major selling point for the game. The plaintiffs argue that they were excited about this new content and purchased the game based on these promises. However, the DLC was never released, leaving the players feeling “completely duped.”
The lawsuit further argues that there is a legal obligation for the developers to provide a refund since the promised content was not delivered. Despite this, Aspyr did not offer refunds to affected players. Instead, the company provided a free complimentary video game key that allowed users to redeem a copy of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II on the PC digital platform Steam. Other games, such as the first Knights of the Old Republic on the Nintendo Switch and titles like Jedi Knight and Jedi Knight II, were also offered as compensation.
The Response
The defendants, Aspyr and Saber Interactive, are required to respond to the lawsuit by October 4th. As of now, there has been no official statement from either company regarding the lawsuit or their plans for resolving the issue.
Implications for Aspyr and Saber Interactive
This class action lawsuit could have significant implications for both Aspyr and Saber Interactive. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could set a precedent for future cases involving false advertising and unfulfilled promises in the gaming industry. Developers and publishers may need to be more cautious in their marketing strategies and ensure that they deliver on their promises to avoid legal repercussions.
Aspyr’s Future Projects
Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Aspyr has recently announced a new project, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, which is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch in February next year. It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will affect the company’s reputation and future endeavors.
Conclusion
The class action lawsuit against Aspyr and Saber Interactive over the cancelled DLC for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II highlights the importance of delivering on promises made to consumers. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in advertising and marketing practices.
As the lawsuit progresses, it will be interesting to see how Aspyr and Saber Interactive respond and whether they will be able to resolve the issue with the affected players. In the meantime, players eagerly await the court’s decision and hope for a fair resolution to this disappointing situation.
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