Game Update 7.6 content is coming to the public test server soon! Galactic Threads – New Lair Boss and Dynamic Encounters!

The Star Wars: The Old Republic developers have revealed what’s coming up in the next Update, Update 7.6 which will be coming out in the holidays! Before then though, we’ll get to test out two new major pieces of content – a new single-boss operation, and a whole new type of content called Dynamic Encounters!

I’ve transcribed what is in the video below if you prefer to read over watching, I can’t wait to test this content out!

Watch Video

Introduction

Hello, everyone. I’m Eric Musco, game director on Star Wars: The Old Republic, and I’m excited to be here today to talk to you about our holiday update 7.6 Galactic Threads as our next major game update to the game. It’s gonna come with many of the things you’d expect, like the continuation of our story line where you learn about what’s going on with [SPOILER] and [SPOILER] along with a host of new things we’re excited to tell you about and our next live stream coming this November.

PTS

Now, I’m obviously not just here to tell you about when our next live stream is. In fact, all of these things are gonna be coming to PTS very soon.

XR-53 Lair Boss

First up in 7.6, we’ll introduce our newest Lair Boss, the propagator core XR-53 which will be launching in story and veteran modes.

Propogator Core XR-53 Lair Boss on Ilum coming in Update 7.6!

For the uninitiated a Lair Boss is the type of boss encounter built for eight players and these are not for the faint of heart, so bring your best geared and most skilled friends because the XR-53 is not gonna go down easy. [It is a single-boss Operation for level 80 subscribed players.]

View all the screenshots from the video in this separate article

Players will find the XR-53 on Ilum. Why Ilum? you might ask. Well, it was actually a self replicating droid that was part of the emperor’s fortress that crashed down during the battle of Ham. And let’s just say that its core functions got a little disrupted since the crash, this will play directly into the mechanics of the boss fight itself, but I’ll let you discover that for yourselves.

Dynamic Encounters

Dynamic Encounters coming in Update 7.6!

Next up is something that we teased on our last live stream ending. Keith’s executive Q three producer letter in 7.6 we have an entirely new type of content called Dynamic Encounters. Dynamic Encounters are all about breathing life into the planets they inhabit, bringing that feeling of “Wait, ehat’s happening over there?” with timed events ranging from dangerous scraps with Imperials to quirky roadside breakdowns.

View all the screenshots from the video in this separate article

Let me give you a hypothetical example on Tatooine one of the planets launching with Dynamic Encounters in 7.6.

You just finished up a mission and you’re kicking back in Anchorhead Cantina. When you see a Dynamic Encounter pop up nearby in your map, you hop on your speeder and jump into the action. Imperials are attacking – some other Republic players join in with you, eventually killing enough Imperials to bring out the Imperial leader.

You defeat them, complete your first Dynamic Encounter. That was cool. You pull up your map to see what else might be nearby.

There is a cantina band that has had their gear plundered by Womp Rats. “Blast it! We’re gonna be late to our gig.” “Better take a look.” [Video of player going around completing the mission with lots of blue objects to find.]

You pull up your map to see what else might be nearby. And you see that there are quite a few around. One jumps out. A Hidden Chain invasion is happening. [Video shows a player doing a combat based mission.]

With Dynamic Encounters on Hoth and Tatooine and Hidden Chain invasions spread across the galaxy. You never know what you’ll discover.

Public Test Server

We’re really excited for you to jump on and check all of this out on our public test server. And so as an added bonus for 7.6, we’re bringing back our PTS testing incentives as an added-added bonus.

We’re also introducing a brand new reward as our top tier PTS incentive, the B1-SAL minipet [B1-SAL Probe Droid, the red one.]

Check out swtor.com for full details exactly on what to do, how to earn them along with what will be available for testing, and when.

Now in this video, I’ve only talked about two features, the propagator core XR-53 Lair Boss and Dynamic Encounters, but there is a lot more coming in 7.6 that will share at the Galactic Threads live stream in November. Thank you for tuning in. We’re looking forward to seeing you on PTS and may the Force be with you.