It might be easy for one, as a consequence of recent events, to forget that Bioware has done anything in their long, illustrious history outside of the notorious Mass Effect 3, but one wouldn’t have to go too far back to see that, in fact, their library extends into a galaxy far, far away with The Old Republic. Months have passed since its controversial burst onto the spotlight, a fact that means a Game Update cannot be too far behind; it is not, as Game Update 1.2: Legacy launched today.

Key among the innovations found in Update 1.2 is the newly revamped Legacy System, a mechanic that allows players to bind together into a familial unit that helps them to unlock new abilities. Joining a peer’s family tree will open up users to increased customization as well as a potential to gain convenience items, strengthen bonds among companion characters, and bolster one’s moral alignment via earned bonuses.

A new Flashpoint, Operation, and Warzone help to round out the high-level end of Update 1.2. Flashpoint: Lost Island takes place chronologically following the events of Flashpoint: Kaon Under Seige from the game’s last update, Update 1.1, as players scavenge the landscape for clues as to the appearance of the Rakghoul virus outbreak on Tion Hegemony. Operation: Explosive Conflict ships groups of eight or sixteen Republic or Imperial characters to a new zone on Denova in which they must fight their way through droves of enemies to gain control of the planet and its plentiful resources. Warzone: Novare Coast serves as the player-versus-player addition in Update 1.2 as players of any faction face off for control of the stage’s many mortars and, eventually, the right to be hailed as their faction’s grand champion.

Update 1.2 will also be adding Guild Banks and improvements to the user interface alongside the Legacy System and new end-game content. The update, entitled Legacy, is now available for download.

[Bioware]