Mass Effect 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Mass Effect 2 across the outlets.
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Abandon single-player, move development to Saudi Arabia, "reduce labour"? Experts on what EA's huge buyout debt could really mean
Electronic Arts has been acquired through a leveraged buyout, co-owned by private equity firms and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with approximately $20 billion borrowed from Morgan Stanley. This significant debt places pressure on EA to generate substantial interest payments, leading experts to predict major shifts including potential layoffs and a focus on profitable live service games over niche single-player titles. The acquisition's structure and Saudi Arabia's strategic investment goals suggest a potential reorientation of EA's development and business practices.
"If I was buying BioWare, I would want everything": Former Dragon Age lead thinks "there are several ways" the developer survives EA's $55 billion buyout, but none are pretty
Former BioWare executive Mark Darrah discusses potential scenarios for the studio's survival following Electronic Arts' acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. He suggests that BioWare might be sold off with its IPs and technology, or its IPs could be sold individually, though he expresses concern about the overall impact on the developer and its catalog.
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.
Veteran Bethesda Developer Says He Would Have Done Starfield’s Planets Differently
Veteran Bethesda developer Nate Purkeypile has stated he would have approached Starfield's planet creation differently, criticizing the studio's extensive use of procedural generation. He advocates for fewer, more hand-crafted planets, drawing parallels to Mass Effect's approach and suggesting Starfield should have leaned more into No Man's Sky's dynamic content generation if pursuing a thousand planets. Despite these criticisms, Starfield has achieved over 17 million players and Bethesda plans future updates and content.
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.
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.
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’s Saudi takeover will be "a real waste" if it turns the publishers into a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine", Helldivers 2 studio boss says
Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed concern that Electronic Arts' recent $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabian investors could lead the publisher to focus solely on sequels and mega-franchises, potentially wasting its diverse game catalog. He hopes for continued business and creative diversity within EA, despite the consolidation and significant debt incurred by the deal, which may lead to cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
EA is now a private company, with stakeholders that include Saudi's PIF and Affinity Partners
Electronic Arts has officially become a private company following a $55 billion buyout, with stakeholders including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners. This deal, the second largest in gaming history, has raised concerns regarding human rights and LGBTQ+ issues due to the nature of some investors. The future of EA's franchises and potential company restructuring remain uncertain.
EA has officially been sold to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
Electronic Arts (EA) has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a leveraged buyout valued at approximately $55 billion. The deal, which also includes investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, marks EA's return to private ownership after 36 years. CEO Andrew Wilson addressed staff, emphasizing continued innovation and the importance of interactive entertainment, while concerns remain about potential layoffs and the use of AI.
EA have gone private, as Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner's investment groups complete their $55 billion acquisition
Electronic Arts (EA), publisher of franchises like EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners for $55 billion, making it a private company. The deal has raised concerns among unionized workers regarding potential layoffs and among LGBTQIA+ players about the future of diversity in EA's games, though some developers have expressed commitment to maintaining inclusivity.
EA and games like The Sims, Dragon Age, and Battlefield are now officially owned by Saudi Arabia and private equity as…
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 billion, making it a private company. CEO Andrew Wilson stated the move will allow for bold investment and innovation. Concerns have been raised regarding potential censorship of IPs like The Sims and Dragon Age, as well as national security risks due to foreign ownership.
Saudi Arabia's $55 billion takeover of EA could waste "one of the best catalogues in the industry" by reducing it to a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine," Helldivers 2 boss worries
Electronic Arts has officially been acquired by a group of investors led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for $55 billion. Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, expressed concern that this consolidation could lead EA to focus solely on sequels and mega-franchises, potentially wasting its diverse catalogue of games and reducing creative diversity within the industry.
10 expansions that were better than the actual game
This article ranks ten DLC expansions that are considered superior to their original base games. Titles like Dishonored's 'The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches,' Fallout: New Vegas's 'Old World Blues,' and Mass Effect 3's 'Citadel' are highlighted for their significant improvements and compelling content.
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.
EXCLUSIVE: How The Expanse: Osiris Reborn's Progression System Works, Plus Brand New Screenshots
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a third-person action RPG that emphasizes gear over class for defining combat style. The game draws significant inspiration from the Mass Effect series, offering players a unique approach to character progression and combat.
"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.
This X-Files-Inspired Detective Game Wants You To Solve Mysteries From Every Angle
The Eventide is a supernatural detective game from Studio Reset, featuring a team of paranormal investigators in a neon-noir Canadian city. Players will utilize a "Parallax Deduction" system, assigning different agents with unique backgrounds and perspectives to solve cases, influencing the investigation's outcome. The game aims to blend mature narrative themes with supernatural mystery, featuring fixed-camera exploration and agent-driven deduction, and is set to release on PC via Steam.
Vilka är det som jobbar med FZ?
This article introduces the staff behind the Swedish gaming website FZ, describing them as passionate gamers with diverse tastes and strong opinions. It highlights their backgrounds, favorite games, music, films, and books, aiming to connect them with the FZ community.
Dragon Age veteran says a series comeback would be difficult with EA's "frightening" graveyard of dormant IP: "I suspect that it wouldn't happen"
Former BioWare veteran Mark Darrah believes a comeback for the Dragon Age series would be difficult due to Electronic Arts' management of dormant intellectual properties. He suggests that EA's focus on financial performance over game development, coupled with internal challenges at BioWare and potential ownership changes, makes it unlikely for a new Dragon Age game to be pitched and approved.
