BioWare is ostensibly moving ahead withMass Effect 4, which is good news, especially given recent rumors of the studio being shut down following the disappointing performance ofDragon Age: The Veilguard. But even thoughBioWare appears safe for now, its reputation is still nowhere near what it was duringMass Effect’s heyday, and it might never be, if it continues down its current path.
Mass Effect 3may have had a controversial ending, but it still sold and reviewed well, and most players look back on it fondly; it certainly didn’t soil the series as a whole. ButMass Effect Andromedais a different story: a buggy launch and lackluster writing made it a disappointing follow-up to the genre-definingMass Effectgames that preceded it, and there was a strong sense that the “BioWare magic,” present in the likes ofMass Effect 2,KOTOR, andBaldur’s Gate, was missing. Two years later, BioWare stumbled again withAnthem, an early portent of just how disastrous big-budget live-service games could be. WhileVeilguardcertainly hasn’t drawn the same widespread ire as the aforementioned games, it was far from the magic bullet needed to restore BioWare to its former glory, leaving the studio in a tough position going intoMass Effect 4.
BioWare Might Want To Hand Off Mass Effect to Another Studio
It might seem unthinkable, especially sinceMass Effectis perhaps BioWare’s greatest claimto fame, but the studio may no longer be suited to continuing its development. One can only hope thatMass Effect 4will turn out well, but recent releases haven’t exactly inspired confidence. This may sound harsh, and almost like a punishment for recent sins, but BioWare could actually be better off if given the chance to move away fromMass Effect.
BioWare Isn’t What It Used To Be
Subjectively,BioWare isn’t the same studioit once was: it’s been over a decade since it released a game as well-crafted and well-received as something likeMass Effect 2orDragon Age: Origins. But the change in the studio is objective as well, as so many of its former leaders have moved on to different endeavors. This includes Casey Hudson and David Gaider, the game director and lead writer for theMass Effecttrilogy andDragon Age: Origins, respectively.
There’s simply no way for the newBioWare leaders to live up to the studio’s old legacy, and this has little to do with talent or dedication: they are quite literally different creators with different styles, goals, et cetera. This is a recurring problem in franchises across all mediums, as one entry might launch an IP into great success, causing future releases, led by different people, to attempt to emulate it. This can work sometimes, but it often leads to the latter being a shallow imitation of the former, as has occurred withAndromedaandVeilguard.
New-BioWare Deserves to Strike Out On Its Own
AAA publishers often seem allergic to new ideas: why take a risk with a new IP when a sequel, spin-off, or remake of a popular game comes with a built-in fanbase? But new IP can also make waves—every successful series was once a fresh IP, after all. EA itself is aware of this, as it has recently published thewildly successfulIt Takes TwoandSplit Fiction, two new IP that have sold like hotcakes, prized for their originality.
BioWare has suffered from audience expectations, as players are holding it to the standard established by its classic games. This shackles the studio to a bygone legacy that will likely never be recreated, at least not intentionally. Passing offMass Effect, andevenDragonAgefor that matter, to another team could mean better entries in those series, but also better, bolder games from BioWare itself.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
WHERE TO PLAY
Mass Effect: Andromeda travels deep into the Andromeda Galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, you will lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory where we are the aliens. Take command as the Pathfinder, a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers, with deep progression and customization systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and your choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy. As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders, you must ask yourself – how far will you go?
