Bioware plans to launch new content directed at level 50 players now that the switch to Free-to-play is over. In its "State of the Game Address 2," Executive Producer Jeff Hickman said that Bioware would make end game content its "top priority" in the New Year.
"Introducing new content and activities for the elder game is a top priority in the coming year," Hickman wrote. "We've got new Operations, new Flashpoints, new difficulty modes, new PvP areas, and of course, the entire Digital Expansion: Rise of the Hutt Cartel (which is targeted at our high level players)."
Hickman says that the developer has mapped out a plan that will keep the game fresh and interesting for high level players and all player types.
"Overall, we're aiming to introduce a more diverse array of activities - more stuff to do with your Companion, more challenges to tackle with groups, and more reasons for guilds to recruit," Hickman wrote. "We'll also be improving our itemization, introducing new incentives to revisit existing areas, and a lot of other exciting things that will be revealed as we move through the upcoming year."
Hickman also explained what is going on with the Planet Ilum and Open World PvP, while hinting at some big changes coming to the Western Ice Shelf.
"We have not forgotten Ilum! I think you will see (fairly soon) the answer to this question in the game itself - something big is coming to the Western Ice Shelf, but it's quite a departure from what was there before," Hickman wrote.
Hickman said that pure Open World PvP is a difficult proposition and that the developer is focusing its energy on other ways to provide the PvP experience to players.
"We are dedicated to providing excellent PvP experiences to our players, but we intend to focus our energy on PvP Seasons and new Warzones," Hickman wrote. "We will be experimenting with a different approach to Open World PvP, something that encourages organic PvP in contested areas in a new and interesting way, but do not look for massive new Open World PvP this year (outside of what I mentioned above). It is still on our design wall, but is taking a back seat to other forms of PvP."
Hickman also revealed that players will be recieveing the option to have same-sex relationships in the next update. You can read more about the new option here. Watch the Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer below...
