Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire represents the fifth digital expansion pack for the BioWare-developed MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic. It was initially revealed to the public on June 12, 2015, leading up to the formal presentations by Electronic Arts at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 15. Knights of the Fallen Empire places a heavy emphasis on a more cinematic style of storytelling, alongside the introduction of fresh environments, new allies, and a dynamic narrative that evolves based on the player's decisions.
Clues regarding the expansion first surfaced during the Community Cantina Tour event in Anaheim, California, held on April 18. Attendees received wristbands bearing the hashtag #FallenEmpire and the date "06.15.15." Furthermore, a concealed image, showcasing a throne accompanied by the same hashtag, was embedded within the digital files distributed to attendees and subsequently shared online. The core focus of Knights of the Fallen Empire revolves around the emerging threat posed by the Eternal Empire and its supreme commander, the Emperor of the Eternal Throne. Upon reaching Level 60, the player's character undergoes a process of being frozen in carbonite, only to awaken five years later to a drastically altered galactic landscape where the Eternal Empire has risen to become the dominant power. The player assumes the role of the "Outlander," tasked with forging an alliance to challenge and ultimately overthrow the Eternal Empire.
Following the events of the Invasion of Ziost, a collaborative Republic-Imperial task force, spearheaded by Darth Marr, falls victim to an ambush orchestrated by the Eternal Empire while searching for the Sith Emperor within the uncharted territories of Wild Space. Discovering that the leader of this new empire is none other than the former Sith Emperor, now known as Valkorion, Darth Marr meets his demise. Through the schemes of Valkorion's offspring, Prince Arcann, Valkorion is killed, the player, now known as the Outlander, is imprisoned as Valkorion's murderer, and the newly crowned Emperor Arcann promises revenge against the galaxy.
Lana Beniko orchestrates the Outlander's liberation from their carbonite confinement, aided by T7-O1 and Koth Vortena, all while evading Arcann's forces, which include Skytroopers, Zakuul Knights and Vaylin, Arcann's sister and the Zakuul's High Justice. The trio successfully commandeers a vessel, which sustains substantial damage from Vaylin, yet they manage to escape into the marshlands of Zakuul.
The team's ship crashes within the Endless Swamp on Zakuul, leading them to uncover an ancient alien warship, a vessel capable of confronting the Eternal Fleet and known in legend as The Gravestone. During the ship's repair, Lana Beniko brings the Outlander up to speed on the galaxy's present situation, while Koth reveals the reasons behind his defection from Zakuul.
The Outlander discovers that Valkorion now exists within their consciousness, pledging assistance during critical moments. The Eternal Empire launches an assault on the group, who successfully defend their position until Senya Tirall, a renegade Zakuul Knight with a troubled history with Koth, joins their ranks. Koth manages to restore the Gravestone to operational status, enabling them to obliterate a significant portion of the Eternal Fleet using the Gravestone's omnicannon, facilitating their swift departure from Zakuul. Witnessing the Gravestone's emergence as a substantial threat to his reign, Arcann tasks Vaylin with hunting them down.
The Group seeks refuge at Asylum, a spaceport catering to those fleeing the Eternal Empire, with the aim of repairing the Gravestone and enlisting additional allies, including Koth's group of defectors and the Scions of Zakuul, a division of the Zakuul Knights known for their prophetic abilities. As it comes to light that Valkorion has survived within the Outlander's mind, Senya discloses her identity as the mother of Arcann and Vaylin.
While Koth is skeptical of Senya's intention to defeat her children, the group is informed of a potential ally on Zakuul known as the Lady of Sorrows, a notorious criminal with a reputaton for murder and evading the Zakuul Knights, who claims that she can communicate with the Gravestone. Senya and the Outlander venture to Zakuul's underworld to meet with the Lady while confronting the Heralds of Zildrog.
The Outlander, with the help of Lana Beniko and Theron Shan, assembles a coalition of volunteers from across the galaxy, united in their opposition to the Eternal Empire. The Outlander is subsequently recognized as the Alliance Commander.
SCORPIO informs the Alliance of a potential recruit known as Firebrand, later revealed to be Kaliyo Djannis, who is known to some as a thrill seeker and to most as a dangerous terrorist. Desperate for allies, Theron and the Commander venture to Zakuul to meet with Firebrand.
To find more allies, Theron Shan suggests Havoc Squad, the Republic's most elite special forces squad, led by Aric Jorgan who, against the orders of the Republic Senate, conducting an unsanctioned mission on Zakuul. Too good to pass it up, Theron and the Commander make the journey to convince them to join the Alliance even if it means going against the Republic.
While the Alliance dispatches Kaliyo Djannis and Havoc Squad to inflitrate the Spire and potentially cripple the Eternal Fleet, the Commander heads out to the wilderness of Odessen to consult with Valkorion only to be met with Valkorion's fury against the Outlander for failing to move beyond the boundaries of their former life. The Outlander is forced to face Valkorion's tests in order to grow strong enough to defeat Arcann and Vaylin as well as claim the Eternal Throne.
Gault Rennow and Vette offer the Alliance a chance to raid the Eternal Empire treasury, which has accumulated from the tribute from capitulated worlds, as a means of funding Alliance operations in the long run.
After learning that the Eternal Fleet is captained by GEMINI droids, which are based off on SCORPIO's design, the Alliance enlists the aid of the Mandalorians led by Mandalore the Avenger on Darvannis to inflitrate the factory on the planet containing GEMINI Prime, the template which the GEMINI Captains are based on, which is needed to turn the tide of the war.
The Alliance attempts to board a lone vessel of the Eternal Fleet in order to replace the GEMINI Captain with GEMINI Prime in order to take over the GEMINI network. But the Alliance soon learns that not everything is going well as not only has the Captain alerted Arcann to the threat but also cripples the Alliance's efforts to succeed.
SCORPIO has betrayed the Alliance and seized control of the Eternal Throne. Meanwhile on Odessen, the Alliance faces an invasion from Emperor Arcann and his portion of the Eternal Fleet. The Alliance takes the fight to Arcann by boarding his flagship in order to allow the Alliance Commander to defeat the Eternal Emperor once and for all.
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire functions as a digital expansion for the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic. It elevates the game's level cap from 60 to 65. Knights of the Fallen Empire has been characterized by its "renewed focus on cinematic storytelling" and introduces "new worlds to explore, new companions to recruit into your alliance, and a dynamic story that players will be able to shape based on the choices they make." Furthermore, the original eight class stories have been enhanced to provide a more immersive and engaging experience. Single-player story arcs, the game's end-game Operations, and other content have also been upgraded to levels 60 and above. Players have the option to create a level 60 character to directly engage with the Knights of the Fallen Empire storyline without needing to progress through the existing game content.
The narrative of Knights of the Fallen Empire is presented and distributed in smaller "chapters," with the initial nine chapters released upon the expansion's launch. The game's official website lists a total of sixteen chapters, with the final five currently unnamed. These chapters are intended to be released on a monthly basis following the initial launch. All subscribers, regardless of their subscription date, gain access to all Fallen Empire chapters released up to their subscription point. Knights of the Fallen Empire is set five years after the events of the core game, introducing new companions and reintroducing familiar companions within the new timeline. A total of five new companions are added, including Lana Beniko from the Forged Alliances storyline and the previous expansion, Shadow of Revan. The increased level cap facilitates a focus on "increased mobility and action-packed combat," while the expansion's emphasis on single-player storytelling leads to restrictions on grouping during story missions and arcs.
Knights of the Fallen Empire was initially teased during the Community Cantina Tour held in Anaheim, California, on April 18, 2015. Attendees were given wristbands featuring the hashtag #FallenEmpire and the date "06.15.15." Additionally, the flash drive containing files distributed to attendees included a hidden image displaying the hashtag and the Eternal Throne, which was later shared online. The digital expansion was formally unveiled during Electronic Arts' presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 15, 2015, although the name was revealed on June 12 within the schedule of Electronic Arts' presentation. The game's announcement was accompanied by Sacrifice, a cinematic trailer developed by Blur Studio, consistent with the game's previous trailers. The full-length trailer was subsequently released online.
Similar to previous expansions, the release of Knights of the Fallen Empire was preceded by a series of subscriber rewards. Players who subscribed by August 10 received Nico Okarr, the smuggler featured in the Return cinematic trailer, as a companion. Those subscribed by August 31 received an exclusive set of blasters for Okarr. Subscribers by September 30 received Nico Okarr's duster coat, and subscribers by October 19 were granted a swoop bike inspired by the one depicted in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The Epic Story Boost, which granted subscribers 12 times the standard experience for class missions, remained active until October 19.
Alexander Freed authored Chapter 10 of Knights of the Fallen Empire, titled "Anarchy in Paradise."
- Chapters I-IX — Release 4.0 on October 20, 2015 [28]
- Chapter X: Anarchy In Paradise — Release 4.1 on February 9, 2016 [29]
- Chapter XI: Disavowed — Release 4.2 on March 8 , 2016
- Chapter XII: Visions in the Dark— Release 4.3 on April 5 , 2016 [30]
- Chapter XIII: Profit and Plunder — Release 4.4 on May 3 , 2016 [31]
- Chapter XIV: Mandalore's Revenge — Release 4.5 on June 1 , 2016 [32]
- Chapter XV: The GEMINI Deception — Release 4.6 on June 28 , 2016 [33]
- Chapter XVI: The Battle of Odessen — Release 4.7 on August 9 , 2016