STAR WARS™: The Old Republic™ News

With Game Update 7.1 “Digging Deeper,” players return to Elom to unearth new clues about Darth Malgus’s mysterious plans. This update also brings a new Operation–the R-4 Anomaly–as well as the Manaan Daily Area and new tactical items. Alongside the new content, we’ve improved the player’s experience with changes made to the User Interface, including additional customization options. Read below for more details!



Story Update: Digging Deeper - Discover new secrets about the motivation behind Darth Malgus’s mysterious plans and learn the fate of Sa’har Kateen, the Jedi Padawan Malgus dueled in the ancient ruins of Elom.

R-4 Anomaly Operation - In this new 8-player Operation, players take on an obscure Sith cult set on harvesting technology from an ancient weapon of terrifying power. This new operation is available in Story Mode and Veteran Mode to all characters at level 80. Look for it in the Activity Finder window!

The following can be obtained from this Operation:

• Virulent Armor Sets
  
• Hazardous Armor Sets
  
• Bosses and R-4 Anomaly Operation Decorations
  
• Item Rating 340 gear in Veteran Mode
  

Manaan Daily Area - Travel to Manaan for two new, faction-based storylines and repeatable Missions. To access these Missions, characters must have completed the Onslaught and Legacy of the Sith expansions. Manaan Daily Area Missions will be available on the Daily Missions Terminal on Manaan or in the Activity Finder window.

Like other Daily Areas, Manaan will offer several new rewards. To earn them you’ll need to reach the appropriate reputation rank with your respective faction by completing Daily and Weekly Missions. Each faction has a vendor in their base who sells items, including:

• Firaxan Weapon Sets
  
• Manaan Defender and Nightlight Armor Sets
  
• Cerulean Turtle Minipet
  
• Manaan-inspired Stronghold Decorations
  

Four new tacticals - With this new update, new Tactical items are now available at the vendors in the Supplies section of each Fleet:

• Bodyguard Mercenary / Combat Medic Commando: Kolto Vapors
• Carnage Marauder / Combat Sentinel: Shard of Mortis
• Arsenal Mercenary / Gunnery Commando: Gyroscopic Stabilizers
• Innovative Ordnance Mercenary / Assault Specialist Commando: Magnetic Resonance

Power Increase - New Items Ratings of gear have been added to Upgrade Vendors on the Fleet. Players can now upgrade to Item Rating 330 by completing Conquests, Flashpoints, and Legacy Operations.

Improved Player Experience - In addition to the new content listed above, this update also includes Class balance changes, improvements to the Character and Chat windows, and customizable subtitles and combat styles icons.

Nar Shaddaa Nightlife 2022 - The Nar Shaddaa Nightlife event is back from August 2nd at 12:00 PM UTC until September 13th at 12:00 PM UTC. For this new edition, we’re introducing new rewards inspired by last year’s High Roller Shades and more! Check these out here.



Log in to the game now to experience the new content and changes. The full list of patch notes for this update is available here.

Note: As Game Update 7.0: Legacy of the Sith patch notes reached the character limit of Steam patch notes, only the highlights are posted. You can consult the entire patch notes on our website, here.

• Item removal has been pushed until the next update. GTN sales will remain active.
  

Highlight

• Story Update - Digging Deeper - Uncover a glimpse of Darth Malgus’s mysterious plans. In this new update, players will learn more about Malgus’s fascination with Darth Nul, as well as the fate of Sa’har Kateen, the Jedi Padawan he dueled in the ancient ruins of Elom.
  
• R-4 Anomaly Operation - Team up with your friends and take on members of an obscure Sith cult set on harvesting technology from an ancient weapon of terrifying power. Power yourself up all the way to Item Rating 340! Additional information here
• Manaan Daily Area - Explore the depths of Manaan in our new Daily Area! Expand your faction’s influence with all new story and daily quests, new achievements, and a new reputation track, including new rewards and titles.
  
• Class balance - Several changes have been made for a better balance across all the Combat Styles.
  
• New tacticals - Four new Tactical items are available at the Supplies vendor on the Republic and Imperial Fleets.
  
• User Interface enhancements - To improve player experience, we’ve made changes to the Character Window, Weapons in Outfitter, and combat style icons, as well as added customization options to chat and subtitles.
  
• Power Increase - New Item Ratings of gear have been added to Upgrade Vendors on the Fleet. Increase your power up to Item Rating 330 by completing Conquests, Flashpoints, and Legacy Operations. More information in this forum post.
  
• Nar Shaddaa Nightlife - The Nar Shaddaa Nightlife event is back! Beginning with the launch of 7.1 through September 13th (12:00 PM UTC), test your luck at one of our casinos and earn the new High Roller Weapons!
  

Nar Shaddaa Nightlife Date: August 2nd - September 13th, 2022 (BEGINS AND ENDS AT 12:00PM GMT)
Requirement: None!

Test your luck at the exotic Star Cluster and Club Vertica Casinos with the return of the Nar Shaddaa Nightlife event! Rare and extravagant rewards await high-rollers or those touched by Lady Luck. For those of you wanting a change in scenery, the event has broadened its horizons and is also happening on Mek-Sha. New Daily Missions and a rewards await all those flushed with credits.

FEATURED REWARDS:

• Kingpin’s and Nightlife Socialite Armor Sets
  
• Phrojo Nuray and Gammorean Bodyguard Companions
  
• Vectron Magnus and Kingpin's Rancor Mounts
  
• Kingpin’s Predator Mount
  
• Taxidermy Stronghold Decorations
  
• Cartel Market Certificates
  
• High Roller Shades
  
• Replica C1-4W Mini-pet
  
• Kingpin’s Grigna Mount
  
• Blast Pad Floor Trap and Frost Floor Trap Stronghold Decorations
  
• New High Roller Weapons
  
• New Lucky Pritarr Mount
  
• New Fiery Grefna Chick
  
• New Proud Pritarr Cub
  
• New Shimmering Ginx
  
• …and more!
  

The All Worlds Ultimate Swoop Rally Date: August 9th - August 16th, 2022 (BEGINS AND ENDS AT 12:00PM GMT)
Requirement: Level 20+

In the growing shadow of war, swoop fans across the galaxy descend on Dantooine, Tatooine, and even Onderon for the sport’s biggest spectacle—The All Worlds Ultimate Swoop Rally! They’re packing the stands, eager to take their minds off their troubles and cheer their favorite swoop gangs. The bikers are here to take on dangerous challenge courses, show off their piloting skills, and flaunt their souped-up swoop bikes. The thunder of the engines, the deafening applause from the fans, the wind battering their helmets… there’s no bigger rush for these thrill seekers.

Despite their reputation as wild rebels whose makeshift courses disregard local districting restrictions, swoop gangs aren’t a serious threat to anyone--something all true swoop fans know! They just love adrenaline-pounding speed, sweet jumps, and big explosions, and the All Worlds Ultimate Swoop Rally combines all three in one crowd-pleasing package. The biggest gangs on the circuit — Horizon’s Razor, the Pit Screamers, and the Blatant Beks — are ready to show their fans a great time.

FEATURED REWARDS:

• Swoop Rally Mounts (regular and gold versions)
  
• Swoop Gang Outfits
  
• Promotion Droid Mini-pets
  
• Various Stronghold Decorations
  
• …and more!
  

Rakghoul Resurgence on Tatooine Date: August 23rd - August 30th, 2022 (BEGINS AND ENDS AT 12:00PM GMT)
Requirement: Level 25+

The Hyland Organization for Rakghoul Neutralization (T.H.O.R.N.) has issued an official level-2 emergency alert concerning an outbreak of the Rakghoul plague on Tatooine. Quarantines have been put in place to restrict traffic of the plague off-world, but exceptions will be made for individuals with priority clearance.

T.H.O.R.N. is recruiting qualified volunteer emergency responders to travel to affected areas to combat the spread of the Rakghoul plague. More information about the outbreak can be found by checking the News Terminals on the Republic or Imperial Fleet!

T.H.O.R.N. wishes to remind you that plague symptoms can be treated if they are identified in the early stages of infection. Whether or not you have travel plans, please consult your nearest trusted medical supply droid and get vaccinated!

FEATURED REWARDS:

• Reputation with THORN
  
• Merciless Seeker’s Armor Set
  
• THORN Epicenter and Dark Vector Armor Sets
  
• Outbreak Response Weapons
  
• Alliance Contact - Doctor Lokin
  
• Infected Varactyl and Infected Dewback Mounts
  
• Ferocious Rakghoul Mini-pets
  
• … and more!
  

Ten Year Anniversary Date: December 14th, 2021 - January, 2023 (BEGINS AND ENDS AT 12:00PM GMT)
Requirement: Levels 10+

We are happy to celebrate out 10th anniversary on December 20th! With this being a huge milestone, we are going to celebrate the anniversary all year long! To mark this occasion, a special “Anniversary Personnel” vendor can be found on the fleet with new Class Ship Stronghold Decorations. All previous anniversary rewards will also be available during this limited time as well.

FEATURED REWARDS:

• Faction-based fireworks
  
• Commemorative Statues of HK-51, Valkorian, and Malgus
  
• Senya Holo-statue
  
• Fireworks Celebratory Backpack
  
• Several Stronghold Decoration posters
  
• Class Ship Stronghold Decorations
  
• … and more!
  

Here is a recap of all the topics we covered during the stream.

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Creative Director, Charles Boyd and Community Manager, Jackie Ko, opened the stream showing that they were able to host the stream in-person for the first time in years.

Timestamp: 4:25

Players can redeem the code LotSMalgus on this page to receive a Darth Malgus Stronghold decoration! This code will expire on August 8th, 2022, so be sure to redeem it before then.



Timestamp: 5:15

Narrative Director, Ashley Ruhl, and Lead Writer, Catilin Sullivan Kelly shared further insight into the stories of “Digging Deeper” and R-4 Anomaly. Including new characters players will meet based on their faction.

Timestamp: 13:05

Jackie Ko and Lead Game Producer, Eric Musco, gave an overview of R-4 Anomaly Operation including the 4 new bosses, enhancements brought with this new operation, and rewards!

Special note: In order to experience the story of R-4, players must complete the story of Dxun.

Timestamp: 18:35

Game Update 7.1 will also have UI/UX and visual communication updates. These include Outfitter improvements, the introduction of the Combat Style Icon Color Selector (including a colorblind preset!), and increased customization for the chat window and subtitles. We also take a deeper dive into how gearing works with 7.1 and the return of mods into endgame itemization.

Timestamp: 29:15

Players got a sneak peek of rewards they can earn when completing missions in the new Manaan Daily Area. Amongst the new rewards, players can earn Firaxan Weapon Sets, Manaan Defender and Nightlight Armor Sets, and Manaan-inspired decos.

Special note: Players must complete the crit path for Legacy of the Sith in order to access the Manaan Daily Area.

Timestamp: 31:50

We’ve also announced the return of Nar Shaddaa Nightlife! This year’s event is scheduled with the launch of Game Update 7.1 and will be live on August 2nd and will run until September 13! Players will have the opportunity to earn new rewards inspired by last year’s High Roller Shades such as the High Roller Weapons. We’ve made slight adjustments to the slot machines in that the frequency of earning currency has been decreased, so the chances of getting items is increased.



Timestamp: 36:40

The stream wrapped with closing notes from Charles Boyd who offered a glimpse of the future of SWTOR which includes more story, additional features for Outfitter, Flashpoints, the PvP Revamp, and even a completely brand new planet called Ruhnuk.

“I can’t thank you enough from the bottom of my heart. It’s been such a great ride and such an honor to be a part of all this. Thank you all so much for playing SWTOR, thank you all so much for watching the stream and hanging out. We’ll see you all on the servers with 7.1. May the Force be with you.” - Charles Boyd.

Game Update 7.1, “Digging Deeper” launches free to all subscribers on August 2nd!

Hi folk,

We will be hosting a 7.1 Livestream on July 28, 1:00 PM CT (6:00 PM UTC) over on our Twitch channel.

We'll be going over what's coming in 7.1, and you'll also be hearing from several devs as well.

See you soon!