Anthem
News, coverage and analysis tracking Anthem across the outlets.
Dragon Age is "unlikely" to continue at EA, says former lead David Gaider, but if you gave him the keys to the RPG he'd take it somewhere "dark" and "do things that will make people upset"Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the series is unlikely to continue under Electronic Arts due to the company's historical dissatisfaction with its sales performance, despite generally positive reviews for recent titles like The Veilguard. Gaider expressed that if given the opportunity, he would steer the franchise in a darker, more provocative direction, focusing on the core appeal that resonated with fans.
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.
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.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-ServiceDespite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
Stop Killing Games suffers setback following European Parliamentary hearing - but all is not lostThe European Commission has decided not to propose new legislation for online game preservation, stating that existing EU copyright and consumer laws provide sufficient safeguards. This ruling is a setback for the Stop Killing Games movement, which had petitioned for a legal framework to prevent games from becoming unplayable when online services are shut down. While the Commission will encourage an industry code of conduct and greater transparency, it will not mandate game companies to keep titles playable indefinitely.
"The live-action Smurfs movie paid for itself entirely through product placement" - Former Dragon Age boss suggests games can be funded another wayFormer Dragon Age and Anthem executive producer Mark Darrah suggests that live service games could be funded through product placement, a model more common in film. He argues this approach could be more sustainable than current monetization strategies and prevent the overemphasis on certain genres. Darrah highlights the Smurfs movie as an example of a project fully funded by product placement.
'People want MMOs', says veteran designer Jack Emmert, it's the publishers chasing WoW-level scope that…Veteran designer Jack Emmert believes players still want MMOs, citing the sales of New World as proof, but argues that publishers' pursuit of WoW-level scope and budget leads to failure. He suggests that a more focused vision and reasonable expectations are key to creating successful new MMOs, rather than trying to replicate existing giants.
Dragon Age: Inquisition's lead narrative designer is making an adventure game world "where the ordinary starts to feel like it is hiding something"Studio Reset, an independent Canadian studio founded by former BioWare veterans, has announced its debut project: a neon-noir supernatural mystery game. The studio, which includes lead narrative designer Kaelin Lavallée from Dragon Age: Inquisition and former Anthem creative director Kris Schoneberg, aims to modernize the adventure game genre with bold visuals and meaningful replayability, focusing on atmospheric storytelling and intuitive clue-solving.
Former BioWare, Inflexion Games, and Timbre Games developers launch Studio ResetStudio Reset, a new Canadian indie studio founded by former developers from BioWare, Inflexion Games, and Timbre Games, has officially launched. The studio is working on a neon-noir supernatural mystery title and aims for a sustainable, lean operating model. Key founding members include Kaelin Lavallée, Kris Schoneberg, and Francis Lacuna, who have experience with major franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Surprise: The studio making Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is full of former BioWare devsArcanaut Studios, the developer behind the upcoming Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, is heavily staffed by former BioWare employees, including key figures from the original Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect series. Casey Hudson, who led development on the original KotOR, is CEO and game director at Arcanaut. The studio's leadership team features numerous individuals with extensive BioWare histories, suggesting a strong focus on recapturing the spirit of those beloved RPGs.- Evening PatchesSeveral games have received official updates and patch notes. Anthem version 1.2.0 is now live, Apex Legends has released its Overclocked patch, and Battlefield 2042 has deployed game update 1.2.3.5.
- Evening MultiplexThis article highlights recent video game updates and trailers, including a new update trailer for Anthem and a Tracer Pack for the Call of Duty Endowment. A new demo trailer for Slumber Realm was also featured.
- The Daily Grind: Would you start playing an MMO you know is going to shut down?This article discusses the dilemma of whether players would start an MMORPG that is known to be shutting down soon. It explores the motivation behind experiencing a game before its inevitable closure and questions how long of a window would prompt such an impulse.
Gaming’s Collective Memory Loss: How Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield Got Second ChancesThis article discusses the phenomenon of "gaming revisionism," where games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield, initially met with criticism for technical issues and unmet promises, are now being re-evaluated and praised by content creators. It explores how narratives about games are shaped and potentially rewritten over time, influencing collective memory and the perception of industry accountability.
Mass Effect 5 Studio Silent Lately Because It Hasn’t Had “A Lot of Time” For TeasesBioWare franchise head Michael Gamble stated that the studio's silence on the new Mass Effect game is due to focusing on development rather than teasing. He confirmed that past N7 Day artwork and job listings indicate ongoing work, with a new production director reporting to him. Voice actor Jennifer Hale expressed uncertainty about Commander Shepard's return, suggesting fans contact BioWare directly.
After the death of Dragon Age, it's a megaton bummer to go back and hear BioWare's founders talk about the…This article revisits a 2009 interview with BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk regarding Dragon Age: Origins. The founders expressed optimism about the franchise's future and BioWare's creative direction, unaware of the studio's later struggles and their own departures. The piece contrasts the studio's past successes with its more recent challenges.
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah says it's valuable to have 'an idiot at the table' during game development—but only if they can remember who the experts areFormer BioWare producer Mark Darrah suggests that having a 'layman' or non-expert in game development discussions can be beneficial for grounding expert-driven decisions. He emphasizes that this external voice is valuable only if they understand when to defer to the specialists and avoid overwhelming the team with unqualified feedback.- 'A real concern for millions and probably hundreds of millions of European citizens' - Stop Killing Games has its day in European Parliament and it seems to go very wellThe initiative Stop Killing Games presented its case for regulation in the European Parliament to address the issue of video games becoming unplayable after sale due to discontinued services. The hearing, which garnered over 1 million European citizen signatures, highlighted concerns about consumer rights and the permanent disabling of sold games, with officials pledging to investigate copyright regulations and potential solutions. Founder Ross Scott emphasized that this practice, exemplified by games like The Crew, results in consumers losing access to products they have paid for without adequate recourse.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition’s multiplayer servers will shut down on PlayStation 3 on April 28The multiplayer servers for Dragon Age: Inquisition will be shut down on PlayStation 3 on April 28th. This shutdown follows the earlier closure of Anthem's servers. No information was provided regarding server status for other platforms like PlayStation 4 or PC.
How BioWare can make an unlikely comeback, and why it never will: The first step is cancelling Mass EffectThis opinion piece argues that BioWare, despite its past successes, is unlikely to make a significant comeback due to publisher Electronic Arts' pressure for immediate financial returns and an overreliance on established franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The author suggests the studio needs to find a new identity and embrace experimentation, but believes EA's risk-averse nature will prevent this.