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Games Inbox: Is Final Fantasy 7 still the most popular JRPG?
Readers discuss the perceived lack of hype for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, questioning if the original game's age hinders its popularity as a JRPG. Other topics include reader interest in Take-Two's post-Grand Theft Auto 6 plans, the potential for a live-action Zelda movie, and the future of digital distribution versus physical media.
EA selling BioWare and Mass Effect would be the best news ever - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern over Electronic Arts' financial situation and its potential impact on BioWare and the Mass Effect franchise. The author suggests that EA selling BioWare would be beneficial, allowing the studio to regain independence and potentially revive the Mass Effect series, which they believe is unlikely to continue under EA's current management due to financial pressures.
BioWare veteran says Baldur's Gate 3 was such a great sequel because it didn't try to be too much like…
BioWare veteran Mark Darrah believes Baldur's Gate 3 succeeded because Larian Studios embraced its own identity while drawing inspiration from the original games and the evolution of CRPGs. He suggests that instead of trying to replicate the past, Larian's unique approach, blending elements of Divinity: Original Sin, made Baldur's Gate 3 a standout sequel that overshadowed its predecessors.
Dragon Age was always "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" in EA's eyes, former BioWare lead argues
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah argues that Electronic Arts never truly understood the Dragon Age franchise, viewing it as "too niche, too backwards, too old-school" compared to Mass Effect. This alleged misunderstanding led to reported corporate intervention and development shifts, including the eventual reboot of Dragon Age 4 into what became Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reportedly did not meet sales expectations.
Iron Man to Ark 2: 15 announced games which have disappeared into the ether
This article highlights 15 announced video games that have seemingly disappeared into development hell, with no substantial news or release dates for years. Titles like Star Wars Eclipse, Little Devil Inside, and Beyond Good & Evil 2 are discussed as examples of games stuck in limbo, some technically not cancelled but facing significant development challenges or prolonged silence, raising concerns about their eventual release.
Saudi Arabia’s $55 Billion EA Takeover Casts a Shadow Over Mass Effect 5
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has acquired a controlling stake in Electronic Arts for $55 billion, taking the publisher private. This acquisition raises concerns among fans and developers about potential censorship and changes to inclusive content in franchises like Mass Effect and The Sims, particularly given the country's laws regarding homosexuality. The future of Mass Effect 5, currently in early development at BioWare, is now uncertain under new ownership.
BioWare vets' new X Files-like mystery game could "not exist in the AAA space" that would rather "throw money at a problem" than experiment
Studio Reset, an indie developer comprised of BioWare veterans, is creating a supernatural mystery game called The Eventide. The developers believe that AAA studios are too risk-averse to create games with the unique "neon-noir" aesthetic and investigative gameplay that The Eventide offers. The game, built in Unreal Engine 5, focuses on creative freedom and mature narrative themes, distinguishing itself from the larger, more experimental-averse AAA space.
Mass Effect 3 dev demanded answers from the RPG's writing team when she realized her alien husband was hooking up…
Mass Effect 3 level designer Kris Schoneberg discovered an unexpected romantic pairing between Tali and Garrus while testing the game, a development she found so surprising she confronted the writing team. This narrative detail highlights the autonomous nature of the crew's personal lives within the Mass Effect universe, even when the player doesn't pursue romantic relationships.
EA to Cut Costs by $700 Million Annually, Potential Mass Layoffs Inbound – Rumor
Electronic Arts is reportedly planning to cut $700 million in annual costs following its acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This move is expected to lead to significant layoffs across the company, despite EA's current financial stability. New investors plan to leverage AI in game development, which could also impact staffing.
EA Has Officially Been Sold, And What Comes Next Could Be Painful
Electronic Arts has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in a $55 billion leveraged buyout, making it the largest LBO in history. The deal has raised concerns about potential layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations due to the significant debt involved. EA CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his position, but the company's future financial operations will be less transparent as it moves from public to private ownership.
An All-Digital Future Isn’t The Only Threat To Video Game Preservation
Dragon Age creator Mark Darrah explains that remasters of the first three Dragon Age games are unlikely due to a lack of developers familiar with BioWare's proprietary Aurora engine. This contrasts with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the more common Unreal Engine. Darrah also reveals his past plans for a "Champion's Edition" trilogy, which were hampered by studio layoffs and internal disagreements at BioWare.
The great RPG debate: Do RPGs really need romanceable companions?
This opinion piece debates whether romanceable companions are a necessary feature in role-playing games. While BioWare's legacy has popularized the trope, the article argues that its inclusion can sometimes lead to formulaic design and wish fulfillment, contrasting it with more nuanced approaches seen in games like Baldur's Gate 3.
What if Stop Killing Games win? Anthem, SpaceCraft and Warframe devs on the "massive undertaking" of reverse engineering an always-online game
The article discusses the challenges and importance of game preservation for live service titles, using Warframe as a primary example. It explores the difficulties of reverse engineering always-online games and the efforts of groups like Stop Killing Games to advocate for offline modes and legal requirements for game longevity. Experts like Scott McGregor and Mark Darrah weigh in on the technical and financial hurdles, while the piece also touches on the potential impact of such regulations on the future development of live service games.
Dragon Age's former producer had envisioned a 'Champions Edition' equivalent to Mass Effect's Legendary Edition, but he doesn't think it will happen anymore: 'There are basically no companies that could help you'
Former Dragon Age producer Mark Darrah believes a "Champion's Edition" remaster for the Dragon Age series is unlikely due to technical challenges. Unlike the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which benefited from using the consistent Unreal Engine, the Dragon Age games were built on different, now poorly understood, proprietary engines. Darrah suggests that EA's reluctance to form new teams for such projects further diminishes the possibility of a remaster.
"We will continue to make CRPGs because we love them" despite new BioWare-style title, says OwlCat Games' senior lead
Owlcat Games, known for its CRPGs like Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, plans to continue developing in the genre despite venturing into action RPGs with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. Creative director Alexander Mishulin stated the studio's love for CRPGs drives their commitment to the genre, while also seeking to innovate and explore different approaches to RPG design.
Another BioWare veteran steps forth to say a Dragon Age remaster isn't impossible, but that doesn't mean it will happen: "In no means a trivial exercise"
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster believes that remastering the original Dragon Age games is possible, though it would be a complex undertaking. However, Mark Darrah, who co-directed Dragon Age: Origins, expressed skepticism, citing a lack of current BioWare staff familiar with the old engine and publisher Electronic Arts' tendency to keep IPs dormant.
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts will happen next week
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is set to complete its $55 billion takeover of Electronic Arts next week, with all regulatory approvals secured. This acquisition, which will take EA private, has raised concerns among content creators and former employees regarding potential shifts in game content and the company's values. The deal, the largest leveraged buyout in history, will saddle EA with significant debt, potentially leading to cost-cutting measures focused on its most profitable franchises like Battlefield and EA Sports FC.
BioWare's Former Dragon Age Boss Says a Mass Effect-Style Remaster Trilogy Is Pretty Much Impossible
A former BioWare executive stated that a Mass Effect-style remaster trilogy for the original Dragon Age games is practically impossible. The executive cited technical challenges as the primary reason why such a project would be unfeasible.
"Basically no one at BioWare" knows how Dragon Age works anymore, says studio veteran, so don't expect a remaster like Mass Effect's even if one would sell "super well"
Former BioWare director Mark Darrah stated that a remaster of the original Dragon Age trilogy is unlikely due to significant technical challenges and a lack of studio expertise with the older engines. Unlike the Mass Effect trilogy, which used Unreal Engine, the Dragon Age games utilize outdated proprietary engines that few at BioWare understand anymore. Despite potential sales success, especially after the popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, the development hurdles and the underwhelming performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard make such a project improbable.
"The Case of the Golden Idol-style deduction meets The X-Files": Former BioWare devs unveil supernatural detective game The Eventide
Studio Reset, an indie developer formed by former BioWare staff, has fully revealed its supernatural detective game, The Eventide. The game features a "Parallax Deduction" system where players select two agents with different investigative styles to solve cases. Inspired by The Case of the Golden Idol, it blends supernatural mystery with a neon-noir aesthetic and is available on Steam.
