Yeah this is what I've been thinking for a few years. Shutting down Bioware would be way too big of a pr disaster. So they're safe for a few years at least.I never thought Bioware was in trouble as an entity I just think Anthem is. Bioware is such a big name and EA has established such a horrid reputation for killing studios I don't think they want to deal with the devastating pr of shuttering Bioware too. I think Anthem is fucked though.
TF2 is pretty active still and an incredible game but nah the franchise is probably on ice
I know it's not a live-service game, but I wish I could've said this about Mass Effect Andromeda... It improved, but a year later and it still clearly was unfinished, EA cut their losses and all DLC was scrapped, and the game was abandoned with the studio dissolved into EA's other studios.I don't think Bioware is going anywhere and I don't think Anthem is doomed. They're gonna invest time and effort into it. The bones are good - they just need to do some tinkering and I think in a year we'll be seeing "I can't believe this is the same game!" styled articles.
I know it's not a live-service game, but I wish I could've said this about Mass Effect Andromeda... It improved, but a year later and it still clearly was unfinished, EA cut their losses and all DLC was scrapped, and the game was abandoned with the studio dissolved into EA's other studios.
Andromeda had good bones too, but it never became fully fleshed out like we all wanted and hoped it would.
Alas, if they hadn't shredded their credibility lately, then people would have believed statements from the studio. It is hard to say whether this is another "Frostbite was totally our choice" type of statement.Nobody seems to believe them when they say they're doing fine and not going anywhere. But if they didn't say anything at all, people would assume they're fucked. It's pretty fucking dumb.
I'd wait for npd
Battlefield: Harder Line
I don't believe them. EA is always a supportive and helpful partner until they aren't. And that moment of change often comes swiftly and brutally.
I agree it's an all right game, but frankly, at this point I'd rather they regroup on Dragon Age 4 or another single player RPG than throw more years of effort into Anthem.
I know it's not a live-service game, but I wish I could've said this about Mass Effect Andromeda... It improved, but a year later and it still clearly was unfinished, EA cut their losses and all DLC was scrapped, and the game was abandoned with the studio dissolved into EA's other studios.
Andromeda had good bones too, but it never became fully fleshed out like we all wanted and hoped it would.
This. If things were terrible and EA was decided on closing the studio, this is still going to be the public line. They don't want employees leaving too early.Fact of the matter is, we won't know what's going on behind the scenes until whatever happens actually happens.
Everyone keeps saying "of course it's different; it's not the same Bioware; staff has changed; it's Bioware in name only"...I hope BioWare sticks around for the simple fact that there's a lot of folks working there, and it would suck to see talented developers out of work.
As a longtime fan of BioWare's games over the years though, the studio sure feels like a hollow shell of its former self to me.
I'm hoping Dragon Age 4 turns things around, but it honestly wouldn't surprise me if they ruined it by making in a MMO/GaaS as well.
14 critics?
Playstation was the only platform where you couldn't play the game AT ALL a week early, and PC was the only platform where you could play the game in full. So most of the game's reviews are of the PC version.
This so much.So many people seem desperate to see EA fulfill some dumb prophecy that they kill BioWare. Shit is so gross.
Not "closed" but Andromeda's team was "reallocated" to various other studios. I think EA would take that approach; keep the manpower, but put them on select "money-making" IPs guaranteed to sell.They aren't going to close the studio. EA needs multiple studios open and available to create content they aren't going to shutter one of their oldest and most successful studios after one failure. One failure that is still able to be saved and turned into something.
Everyone keeps saying "of course it's different; it's not the same Bioware; staff has changed; it's Bioware in name only"...
... but something I've noticed is the "new" Bioware has never really HAD the opportunity to do games like the "old" Bioware. Every Bioware games since ME3 has had online multiplayer of some sort, microtransactions, different engines and new pipelines, and a massive shift in focus away from how those old games were made, scripted, and supported.
It's a hypothetical, but if you were to ask "current Bioware" to make a game equivalent to KOTOR, Dragon Age: Origins, Jade Empire, or Mass Effect, I think it would be a lot more feasible and better-received than barreling forward with all the baggage and corporate mandates they've dealt with the last several years.
This so much.
Bioware Edmonton is not at real risk of being shut down. What's amazing is how many people - former fans and otherwise - seem to want Bioware to get shut down. Like, they fucked up - big time. And they are paying for it. But asking for them to get shut down is really, really shitty.
Name names.This so much.
Bioware Edmonton is not at real risk of being shut down. What's amazing is how many people - former fans and otherwise - seem to want Bioware to get shut down. Like, they fucked up - big time. And they are paying for it. But asking for them to get shut down is really, really shitty.
This so much.
Bioware Edmonton is not at real risk of being shut down. What's amazing is how many people - former fans and otherwise - seem to want Bioware to get shut down. Like, they fucked up - big time. And they are paying for it. But asking for them to get shut down is really, really shitty.
They just closed visceralEA doesn't close studios anymore. They just repurpose them until they lost all their charm and personality (i.e Criterion).
Name names.
If this is as widespread as you claim, it should be easy.
I mean, dont spare time shame.. were all nerd here
Name them, or better yet call them out and have them explain themselves.Lol. Please. You are then willfully ignoring the toxic glee certain users, here and elsewhere, are taking with Anthem's troubles and the joy of announcing low figures, bad news, and prophesizing doom regarding Bioware as a company. The schadenfreude is real.
The Andromeda studio was a support studio created to pump out ME3 DLC then shifted over to Andromeda as principle development. It was no surprise with all the developmental issues and the tepid response (but it still being a financial success) that they decide to just shift gears with them.Not "closed" but Andromeda's team was "reallocated" to various other studios. I think EA would take that approach; keep the manpower, but put them on select "money-making" IPs guaranteed to sell.
Not saying Anthem isn't or won't become one of those IPs, but if it underperforms that's how EA would feasibly proceed. They have a history of taking more severe action with less cause before...
I guess all is good then!
EA top brass ain't letting the devs know what they have planned. I hope that all is well.
I agree! To me, BioWare is a shell of itself right now...Bioware will never be closed down because the brand name and concept is too valuable to EA. But that doesn't mean they won't gut the entire studio or something like that.