Good morning, and welcome to your prearranged Monday. Don’t fixate on the clock, and this challenging day will conclude soon. Until then, delight in this edition of Morning Checkpoint, *Kotaku*’s daily summary of video game news and other topics of interest. This time, we have an update on *Fate of the Old Republic*, a look at *Fallout Shelter*, and possibly a rendition of that iconic Grinch Christmas tune.

### Casey Hudson Refutes Assertions That *FOTOR* Is Five Years Out

At last week’s Game Awards, *Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic* was announced, generating enthusiasm from fans. As a spiritual sequel to *Knights of the Old Republic*, spearheaded by the original director, Casey Hudson, who also contributed to *Mass Effect*, expectations have soared. However, since the new *Star Wars* game is being crafted by a studio that is just a few months old, rumors started to circulate that the game might not see a launch until 2030. This speculation spread across the internet, prompting Hudson to publicly refute the rumored release timeline on social media.

“Don’t be concerned about the ‘not till 2030’ rumors,” Hudson posted on December 12. “The game will release before then. I’m not getting any younger!” While many share Hudson’s impatience to experience *FOTOR* sooner, it brings up the question of how a new *KOTOR*-like RPG can be built in under five years by such a recently established team.

### A Decade Later, and *Fallout Shelter* Has Just Received Its Largest Update Ever

*Fallout Shelter*, the mobile bunker-building game launched in June 2015, continues to flourish, undergoing numerous updates and adaptations for console and PC. The latest update is the most significant to date, featuring seasons, new characters, quests, and enhanced ties to Amazon’s live-action *Fallout* series.

“Celebrate, Overseers – *Fallout Shelter*’s biggest update is finally here,” Bethesda declared on the game’s Steam page. “Years of content that was previously exclusive to mobile is now available on Steam, including new questlines, characters, weapons, themes, and more.” While it may not take the place of *Fallout 5*, it certainly keeps fans involved.

### Arcade1Up May Have Ceased Operations Over the Weekend

This past weekend, reports surfaced that Arcade1Up, a company renowned for producing modern arcade cabinets, might be going under. An internal email disseminated online suggested that the company halted operations on December 12, leaving its future in doubt. Although one developer that partnered with Arcade1Up mentioned that classic ports would still support online play through a workaround if shutdown affects the online servers, Arcade1Up has not yet confirmed or denied these shutdown claims.

### *Katamari Damacy’s* Creator Might Be Finished with Game Development After *To a T* Sold Poorly

Keita Takahashi, the mind behind *Katamari Damacy*, launched a distinct new game named *To a T* this year. However, it appears to have underperformed commercially, potentially leading him to exit the gaming world. Takahashi disclosed that he returned to Japan partly due to the game’s lackluster sales.

“I recently made my way back to Japan, and one of the reasons for that was the poor sales of *To a T*,” Takahashi stated. He underscored the importance of supporting his children and aiding them in finding a school in Japan, and if he feels that he no longer fits within the gaming industry, he will seek alternative paths. It’s unfortunate that an unconventional title like *To a T* struggled to attract players, and Takahashi conveyed uncertainty regarding the future of experimental games in the industry.

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