BioWare
BioWare business and news from across the web.
Dragon Age creator reckons the series is dead following Veilguard flop, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have another go at it if given the chanceDragon Age creator David Gaider believes the series is likely dead following the poor commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite no longer being at BioWare, Gaider expressed interest in returning to the franchise to take it in a darker, more provocative direction if given the chance. He also commented on BioWare's current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the challenges facing game development under Electronic Arts.- Former Dragon Age Lead Writer Says BioWare's Fantasy Series is Unlikely to Ever Return Under EA — Though He Knows What He'd Do With Dragon Age 5 if He Made ItFormer Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the fantasy series is unlikely to return under Electronic Arts' ownership. However, he has ideas for a potential Dragon Age 5, should the opportunity arise.
Dragon Age's former lead writer thinks the series is probably dead, but he'd be happy to take it off EA's hands and 'go somewhere dark and dangerous' with itFormer Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the series is likely dead under Electronic Arts, citing a consistent misunderstanding of the franchise's appeal and treatment compared to Mass Effect. Despite his past departure from the series, Gaider expressed interest in reviving Dragon Age if given the opportunity, provided it moves in a 'dark and dangerous' direction away from EA's current strategies.
Hasbro should stop looking for a Baldur's Gate 4 studio and take a leaf out of Larian's book by trying…This opinion piece argues that Hasbro should not pursue a Baldur's Gate 4 and instead take inspiration from Larian Studios' approach to game development. The author suggests that the immense success and unique development path of Baldur's Gate 3 make it nearly impossible for any studio to replicate its quality or meet player expectations for a sequel. Instead, Hasbro should focus on nurturing talent and developing new IPs within the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse.
Dragon Age setting creator David Gaider is pitching a heist RPG that's 'make or break' for his studioDragon Age creator David Gaider is pitching a new heist RPG, but faces industry-wide funding challenges for new IPs. He discusses the difficulties smaller studios face in securing publisher investment in the current market. Gaider also reflects on his time at BioWare, criticizing the shift away from player-impacting choices in recent Dragon Age titles.
I love Baldur's Gate 3's queer representation, but triple-A games can still do so much more to explore lesbian stories with the depth they deserveThis article discusses the queer representation in Baldur's Gate 3, particularly focusing on lesbian stories and the limited options available in mainstream AAA games. While praising Baldur's Gate 3 for its characters like Shadowheart and the Isobel/Aylin romance, the author argues that games often fail to cater to a specific lesbian gaze, assuming lesbian sexuality aligns with heteronormative dynamics. The piece calls for more diverse and nuanced lesbian narratives in games, from indie titles to major blockbusters.
Leadership lessons from Mark Darrah’s days at BioWareFormer BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah shares leadership and game development lessons on his YouTube channel, drawing from his experience, particularly with the troubled production of Anthem. He discusses communication breakdowns and the importance of a unified vision in game development.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Dragon Age setting creator says AI push is a delusion of the executive class that's a 'virulent plague'…Dragon Age setting creator David Gaider has described generative AI as a "virulent plague" on the games industry, arguing that its current push leads to inferior work, eliminates entry-level writing opportunities, and poses legal and moral issues. He believes executives are pushing for AI integration without proper regulation or consideration for training junior developers.
Best Android RPGs – Updated!This guide rounds up the best RPGs available on Android devices, focusing on premium titles with all content accessible out of the box. The list includes classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Quest VIII, and Chrono Trigger, alongside modern favorites such as Pascal's Wager and The Banner Saga.
Generative AI is a "virulent plague" and even using it to eliminate "drudgery" has downsides, reckons long-time Dragon Age lead writer David GaiderFormer Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes generative AI is a "virulent plague" and not ready for game development, even for mundane tasks. He argues that its use risks inhibiting the training of junior developers and raises significant legal concerns due to unregulated data sourcing. Gaider suggests avoiding the technology until it is properly regulated.
"We're talking about at least half a decade of horror": former Exodus lead explains why he wasn't keen on doing a Baldur's Gate 4 despite Hasbro offering the chanceFormer Archetype Entertainment studio head James Ohlen explained his reluctance to develop Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense pressure to match Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3. Ohlen stated that building the necessary tools and infrastructure from scratch would take at least five years and expressed concerns about competing with the high standard set by the previous game. He has since left Archetype due to burnout.
Dragon Age: Origins is 'Unsupported' on Steam Deck, but it runs incredibly and it's currently only $3Despite being officially 'Unsupported' on the Steam Deck, Dragon Age: Origins runs exceptionally well on the handheld PC. The article details how to overcome initial launcher issues, adjust graphics settings for native resolution, and utilize community-created gamepad layouts to achieve a smooth 60 FPS experience. The author concludes that the game is perfectly playable and enjoyable on the Steam Deck, requiring less tinkering than some 'Playable' rated titles.
Generative AI is a "plague," says Dragon Age vet David Gaider: "It's not ready for prime time. There's just a lot of executives who really, really want it to be"Longtime Dragon Age narrative lead David Gaider describes generative AI as a "virulent plague" in the games industry, citing concerns about legal issues, ethical implications, and the potential to hinder junior developer training. He argues that the technology is not yet ready for widespread use and that executives are pushing for it without fully understanding its limitations or impact on creative workflows.
Planescape: Torment 2 was greenlit by Wizards of the Coast, 'they were really into what we were doing', but it refused to fund the sequel, and nobody else was interestedBeamdog and former BioWare writer David Gaider pitched a sequel to Planescape: Torment, titled Planescape: Unraveled, to Wizards of the Coast. While Wizards of the Coast was initially receptive to the concept, they declined to fund the project themselves, and no other investors were found. The sequel was ultimately shelved by the end of 2016.
I picked out 31 must-play games going for $5 or less in the Steam Summer SaleThis article highlights 31 must-play games available for $5 or less during the Steam Summer Sale. The curated list includes a variety of genres such as RPGs and first-person shooters, with many titles developed by well-known studios like Larian and BioWare.
EA hit with third round of layoffs this yearElectronic Arts has conducted its third round of layoffs this year, impacting recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. This follows previous staff reductions affecting developers on "Skate" and "Battlefield 6," and comes after EA's acquisition by an investor consortium last September. The company has also shed staff and studios over multiple years, including layoffs at "Apex Legends," Codemasters, BioWare, and the closure of Cliffhanger Games.
Knight of the Old Republic 2 was great because it peeled back Star Wars' black-and-white moralityStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is lauded for its deconstruction of the Star Wars universe's black-and-white morality, offering a darker, more complex narrative. Despite a troubled development and a rushed launch, the game, particularly with the Sith Lords Restored Content mod, is praised for its writing and characters, especially Kreia, who challenges simplistic notions of good and evil.- The Stream Team: Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, Trine 6, and more Steam Next Fest multiplayer demosMassively OP's MJ Guthrie will be showcasing various multiplayer game demos from Steam Next Fest, including Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, and Trine 6. Hawthorne is notably developed by former employees of Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog. The stream will focus on multiplayer and MMORPG titles, with a mention of interest in single-player games like Chonky Cat and Where We Used to Play.
Former Dragon Age writer says AI could make gamedev 'frustrating as hell': 'How are we going to train up the next generation of devs if we eliminate every entry-level task?'Former BioWare writer David Gaider expressed concerns that generative AI could make game development "frustrating as hell" by eliminating entry-level tasks crucial for training new developers. He highlighted issues with AI inconsistency and the ethical implications of using artists' data without consent, a sentiment echoed by other developers like David Szymanski and Danny Koo.