One of the most significant reveals at The Game Awards 2025 was Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a successor to the beloved Knight of the Old Republic series, under the direction of original KotOR director Casey Hudson at Arcanaut Studios, staffed by other BioWare veterans. A year after its announcement, the funding source behind this ambitious project has been unveiled: GreaterThan Group, a holding company established by Simon Zhu, former President of Global Investments and Partnerships at NetEase.
Zhu, who spent 13 years at NetEase negotiating funding deals for notable projects like Devolver, Marvel Snap (developed by Second Dinner), and the Chinese release of Sky: Children of the Light, left the company in 2025. This departure followed NetEase's withdrawal from gaming industry investments, resulting in numerous project cancellations and studio closures, including Humanoid Origin, Hudson's previous studio, which was forced to close after losing NetEase's backing.
About GreaterThan Group's Investment Philosophy
Zhu's GreaterThan Group has raised $100 million to invest in gaming projects, with a unique approach: empowering creators to pursue their passion projects without the typical compromises between artistic vision, player satisfaction, and commercial success.
"You can have player satisfaction. You can have commercial success. You can have the achievement of art. You don’t need to compromise or sacrifice one thing for the other. Let’s give the best creator the opportunity to work on a dream project. Everyone wins."
Simon Zhu, GreaterThan Group
This philosophy is particularly poignant given the industry's recent turmoil and its historical treatment of developers.
Zhu positions GreaterThan Group as a "rebalancing force" in an industry known for treating developers poorly. Beyond Arcanaut Studios and Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, GreaterThan is also backing BulletFarm, a studio founded by David Vonderhaar, former Design Director of Call of Duty: Black Ops. Vonderhaar described the studio's unannounced project at GDC this year as akin to "if David Lynch made shooters," highlighting the diverse creative ventures GreaterThan is supporting.
Implications for the Gaming Industry
The investment in Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic and BulletFarm's mysterious project signals GreaterThan Group's commitment to nurturing innovative, developer-driven games. If successful, this model could demonstrate a viable alternative to the high-pressure, often exploitative funding structures prevalent in the gaming industry.
"making a good case that we can make good money and provide good entertainment to people in a decent and honest way"
Simon Zhu, GreaterThan Group
For fans of the Knight of the Old Republic series and the broader gaming community, GreaterThan Group's involvement brings a sense of relief and excitement. It ensures that Casey Hudson and his team at Arcanaut Studios have the necessary resources to craft a worthy successor without the constraints that often lead to creative compromises. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve amidst AI investment trends and the fallout from large tech withdrawals, initiatives like GreaterThan Group offer a beacon of hope for developers and gamers alike.
What This Means for Players and Developers
The backing of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic by GreaterThan Group signifies more than just a well-funded project; it represents a shift towards valuing creative freedom and developer well-being. For players, this could mean more authentic, passionately crafted games that meet high artistic and entertainment standards. For developers, especially those affected by the recent industry upheaval, GreaterThan offers a potential safe haven where vision and profitability are not mutually exclusive.
As Zhu aptly puts it, the goal is simple yet impactful: "give the best creator the opportunity to work on a dream project." If GreaterThan Group succeeds in its mission, the implications for the gaming industry could be profound, potentially paving the way for more sustainable, creator-centric funding models.
