Neverwinter Nights 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Neverwinter Nights 2 across the outlets.
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CD Projekt marks the 19th anniversary of its first Witcher RPG with a tribute to BioWare: 'Their support helped turn our vision into Geralt’s first interactive adventure'
CD Projekt celebrated the 19th anniversary of its first game, The Witcher, by honoring BioWare for its crucial support in the RPG's development and early promotion. The article also touches on the recent closure of BioWare by Electronic Arts, framing it as a significant loss for the industry.
Commander Shepard actors Jennifer Hale & Mark Meer mourn BioWare: 'It was in the hands of ownership that may…
Voice actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer expressed sadness and concern over the reported closure of BioWare and the fate of its intellectual properties. They reflected on the impact on employees and the potential loss of beloved franchises like Mass Effect, with Hale even humorously suggesting a fan-led Kickstarter to save the studio. The article also touches on the broader trend of industry consolidation and the potential for IPs to be mishandled by new ownership.
BioWare's incredible legacy will continue as long as there are RPGs
This article reflects on the significant legacy of BioWare, a studio that has profoundly influenced the RPG genre with titles like Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. Despite acknowledging BioWare's own missteps and the detrimental impact of corporate decisions, the author emphasizes the enduring impact of its innovative design choices, storytelling, and representation in games, suggesting its influence will persist as long as RPGs are made.
'I'm forever grateful to BioWare': 16 game developers share the moment a BioWare game inspired them to…
Multiple game developers share how BioWare titles like Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, and the Mass Effect series inspired them to pursue careers in the gaming industry. These developers highlight specific moments and narrative elements that showcased the emotional depth and storytelling potential of video games.
BioWare's end is a tragically familiar tale | Opinion
This opinion piece laments the decline and effective closure of BioWare, attributing its downfall to over a decade of mismanagement by Electronic Arts and the broader industry trend of chasing live service models. The author highlights the contrast between BioWare's past successes and its recent failures, arguing that private equity buyouts exacerbate these issues by prioritizing cost-cutting over creative stability.
Farewell BioWare, you inspired so many of us, and you deserved so much better than this
BioWare, the acclaimed developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur's Gate, has been closed by Electronic Arts. The studio's closure follows a history of critical and commercial disappointments like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, despite its significant contributions to the RPG genre. The article laments the loss of a studio that shaped industry trends and created deeply emotional experiences for players.
Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer calls out BioWare for snubbing the MMO
Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer Caitlin Sullivan Kelly expressed disappointment that BioWare's announcement of its closure did not mention the long-running MMO. While BioWare did not include SWTOR in its list of notable franchises, the article argues it was not a snub, as SWTOR is now a Broadsword game and the list focused on franchises rather than individual titles.
BG3's Swen Vincke's response to BioWare's closure breaks my heart. "BioWare won't show up anymore when discussing upcoming RPGs."
Electronic Arts has confirmed the closure of BioWare, the acclaimed studio behind Dragon Age and Mass Effect, resulting in approximately 400 layoffs. This decision, attributed partly to the commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, has been met with widespread shock and sadness across the industry, with figures like Larian CEO Swen Vincke expressing deep regret over the loss of a pioneering RPG developer.
"Development on the next Mass Effect is ending": EA is shutting down RPG veteran Bioware "to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long-term growth"
Bioware, the veteran RPG studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is shutting down after over 30 years, with development on the next Mass Effect project also ending. Electronic Arts cited a need to align talent and investments for long-term growth, leading to 400 layoffs across EA, including 50 at Bioware. This closure follows concerns about the high cost and long production times of Bioware's large-scale games and comes after EA's recent leveraged buyout.
BioWare is Shutting Down, Ending Development on Next Mass Effect
Electronic Arts has officially confirmed the closure of BioWare, with early development on the next Mass Effect game ceasing. The studio, known for its influential RPGs, has faced a string of underperforming titles including Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, and a mixed reception for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite its legacy, the future of its IPs like Mass Effect and Dragon Age remains uncertain.
BioWare is closing down and Mass Effect 5 is cancelled, months after Saudi Arabia's $55bn EA buyout
BioWare, the acclaimed RPG developer behind titles like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, is closing down, with its in-development Mass Effect 5 project also cancelled. This surprising decision comes just months after its parent company, Electronic Arts, was acquired by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The closure marks the end of an era for the studio, which has been a prominent name in the industry for over three decades.
BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights continues to host ‘mini MMOs’ 24 years after its release
BioWare's 2002 RPG Neverwinter Nights continues to thrive 24 years after its release, largely due to its robust multiplayer and community-driven content creation tools. The game's legacy is built on players creating "mini MMOs" and acting as dungeon masters, a niche appeal that sets it apart from more story-driven single-player experiences.
CD Projekt is in "a really dangerous place", says Anthem's executive producer, pointing to ballooning costs of making games of that scope and quality
Former Bioware executive producer Mark Darrah warns that the triple-A game industry is in a 'dangerous place' due to ballooning development costs and hyper-specialization, predicting a market bifurcation. He highlights how massive teams and extended development cycles, exemplified by Grand Theft Auto VI's delays, increase financial risks, potentially leading to more studios adopting smaller, focused models with significant outsourcing, like Sandfall Interactive.
Guess who patented a new system for in-game ads
Microsoft has patented a new system that would dynamically pause gameplay to display advertisements, potentially using a credit system to allow players to earn ad-free time. The author expresses strong negative sentiment towards this concept, calling it 'god-awful' and a worst-case scenario for modern gaming. While patents don't always become reality, the article notes Microsoft's continued interest in in-game ads and EA's recent launch of its own advertising platform.
Mark Darrah, co-director of Dragon Age: Origins, has played Riven for 3 minutes and Factorio for 832 hours: 'If you want to know what kind of programmer someone would be, have them play Factorio'
Former BioWare director Mark Darrah discusses his gaming habits, highlighting an 832-hour playtime in Factorio and a brief three-minute session with Riven. Darrah, known for his work on the Dragon Age series, shares insights into game development, programming, and design, emphasizing the lessons learned from playing games like Factorio and his past projects.
Am I out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong: The Wii and PS3 are 'retro' now, according to…
A Japanese TV show, Game Center CX, has sparked debate by voting to consider games from the Wii and PlayStation 3 eras as 'retro.' This decision, supported by a large majority of viewers, prompts a discussion on how gaming history is categorized and whether current definitions are becoming outdated.
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.
Perfect Ten: The first 12 MMO expansions ever released
This article lists the first 12 official expansions released for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) between 1992 and 2002. It highlights key additions and impacts of expansions for titles like Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online, EverQuest, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, and Anarchy Online.
Obsidian: "Vi har fortfarande samma dna som vid New Vegas och KOTOR"
Obsidian Entertainment's Brandon Adler addressed criticism regarding the studio's current identity, stating that despite recent layoffs and shifts in project focus, the core 'DNA' remains the same as when they developed games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Fallout: New Vegas. He emphasized that many lead developers are still the same individuals who worked on previous acclaimed titles.
Obsidian still have "the same DNA" that went into New Vegas and KOTOR 2, The Outer Worlds 2 director insists, following chatter around layoffs
Following recent layoffs at Obsidian Entertainment, director Brandon Adler defended the studio's creative DNA, asserting that the core team behind classic games like Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II remains intact. Adler pushed back against criticism that the studio has lost its way, emphasizing that the same individuals are still in leadership roles and that the studio's fundamental ethos persists despite changes over the years.
