Star Wars: The Old Republic is preparing an inactive character name release ahead of its 15th anniversary. Learn how to protect names across your roster, what happens if a name becomes available to other players, and how the accompanying subscriber mount and subscription bundles fit into the announcement.

The most important distinction is simple: releasing a character name is not the same as deleting a character. The announced process concerns ownership of names, with different protections for subscribers and inactive free-to-play or Preferred characters.

Subscriber Reward: The Meriam Cykada GT Mount

The Meriam Cykada GT offers another opportunity to obtain a mount similar to the original Cykada. Players with an active subscription during the announced reward window qualify for the new mount. That window ends on November 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Central.

This is a subscription eligibility reward rather than an activity-based challenge. The announced requirement is active subscription time within the qualifying period, not completing Flashpoints, earning Conquest points, or purchasing the mount with in-game currency.

Companion and Mini-Pet Compatibility

The mount supports companions and mini-pets, giving collectors more than a new vehicle appearance. However, its passenger accommodation does not fit every companion.

Large companions such as B3-S1 cannot fit in the passenger seat. Players who regularly travel with a larger companion should therefore distinguish between the mount's general companion compatibility and support for a particular passenger.

For collectors, the practical question is whether the vehicle itself is desirable. Companion seating is a useful extra, but it should not be interpreted as universal compatibility.

Inactive Character Names: Who Is Protected?

The name-release process is scheduled for November 12, 2026. Its purpose is to return eligible inactive names to an unreserved pool, where other players may potentially claim them.

Players who are subscribers on November 12, 2026, have all their character names preserved under the announced rules. Those names are not affected by this release.

The date matters. Qualifying for the mount at some point during its reward window and having subscriber protection on the name-release date are related benefits, but they use different eligibility wording. Players relying on subscription protection should ensure their subscription covers November 12 rather than assuming an earlier subscription automatically protects every name.

Free-to-Play and Preferred Players Need Character Logins

For free-to-play and Preferred accounts, a character that has not been logged into since January 1, 2026, is eligible to have its name released.

To retain those names without subscribing, log into every character whose name you want to keep before November 12. Simply accessing the account or playing one main character does not cover the rest of the roster.

• Check every server where you have characters.
• Identify alts that have not been played since January 1, 2026.
• Enter the game with each character whose name matters to you.
• Finish before the deadline rather than leaving the process until release day.

This is particularly relevant for players with older crafting characters, roleplaying alts, or characters reserved for a future return. A familiar name can be easy to overlook when the character carrying it rarely leaves the selection screen.

Take a look at: beginner and returning player guide

What Happens If Your Character Loses Its Name?

If a character loses its claim to a name, the player receives an opportunity to rename that character for free when logging into it again.

That free rename is the remedy for an affected character. It does not guarantee that the old name will remain available or that a previous owner can reclaim it after another player takes it.

Likewise, a released name is not automatically assigned to someone else. It becomes available for potential use. Whether any particular name can be claimed depends on its availability when a player attempts to use it.

How Other Players Can Claim Released Names

The announcement identifies two routes:

• Create a new character using an available released name.
• Use the character rename consumable to change an existing character's name.

For one week following November 12, the character rename item is scheduled to receive a 90% discount. That offer is separate from the free rename granted to a character that loses its name.

Remember that Cartel Coins and credits serve different purposes. A Cartel Market discount is not a reduction in an item's GTN credit price. If considering a tradable rename item on the player market, compare availability and cost independently rather than assuming the same discount applies.

Two bundles accompany the announcement, each including fixed subscription time. For existing subscribers, that time is added to the account rather than replacing the subscription time already remaining.

Both offers are listed as available until January 12, 2027. That later sales deadline does not extend the November mount eligibility window or the character-name protection date.

Rejoin the Fight Bundle

The Rejoin the Fight bundle combines subscription time with character-management benefits:

• 90 days of subscription time.
• 2,400 Cartel Coins.
• A Commander's Character Token.
• Two character transfers.

This package is most relevant to players who actually need its character services. Transfers can be valuable when returning to friends on another server, while a character token serves a different purpose from ordinary leveling.

Avoid judging the bundle solely by the number of included extras. An unused transfer or token offers little practical benefit to someone who already has an established roster on the desired server.

Master the Fight Bundle

The longer subscription package emphasizes account time and cosmetic extras:

• 180 days of subscription time.
• 5,500 Cartel Coins.
• Five dye modules in each of two blue-and-gray color arrangements.
• A droid carrier mount.

The included Cartel Coin amounts are distinct from subscription-related coin grants. When comparing packages, separate the upfront currency, subscription duration, and additional items rather than treating every benefit as interchangeable.

For cosmetic collectors, the dyes and mount may be the deciding factors. For someone primarily interested in keeping character names, those extras are optional rather than necessary.

Which Action Makes Sense for Your Account?

Start with the benefit you actually need. Free-to-play and Preferred players can protect names through character logins; buying a bundle is not required for that route.

Players interested in the subscriber mount should check subscription eligibility before its deadline. Those relying on automatic name protection should ensure subscriber status on November 12. Returning players considering a larger package should evaluate whether they will use the included subscription time and services.

Keep your SWTOR credits budget separate from subscription spending. Credits remain useful for player-market purchases and other in-game expenses, but they are not the announced requirement for either subscriber protection or the reward mount. There is no need to divert resources from gear upgrades merely to preserve a name when the login option applies.

Will inactive characters be deleted?

The announced process releases eligible character names. It does not announce deletion of the characters themselves.

Does logging into one character protect all my alts?

No. Free-to-play and Preferred players should log into every character whose name they want to preserve before November 12, 2026.

Do subscribers need to log into every character?

Players who are subscribers on November 12, 2026, receive protection for all their character names under the announced rules.

No. Although the mount supports companions, larger companions such as B3-S1 cannot fit in its passenger seat.

Can I wait until January to buy a bundle and receive the November benefits?

The bundle sales deadline does not extend earlier eligibility dates. Meet the November requirements separately if you want the mount reward or subscriber name protection.