Current Events > Kotaku: BioWare Doubles Down On Anthem As Pressure Mounts

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://kotaku.com/bioware-doubles-down-on-anthem-as-pressure-mounts-1822380989?IR=T

Over the past few months, BioWare has essentially transformed into a single-game studio as it harnesses its teams to work on the ambitious multiplayer action game Anthem, sources say. There are still small teams maintaining Star Wars: The Old Republic and piecing together the next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted, but the bulk of BioWares staff in both Edmonton and Austin are now on Anthem. And theres a sense among BioWare employees that the companys future is inextricably tied to this game.

Anthem, which was announced at E3 2017, is now scheduled for release in early 2019, according to three people familiar with the project. The fall 2018 window mentioned during that E3 announcement was never realistic, one source said. Exact dates remain in fluxand Anthems developers must also plan for a beta release, an EA Access launch, and an ongoing schedule of patches and updatesbut it appears unlikely to developers that publisher EA will allow BioWare to delay the game any further than March 2019, when the companys 2019 fiscal year comes to an end. (EA, like most publicly traded companies, uses the fiscal calendar as a basis for all of its decisions, as those dates determine how investors will behave.)

As one developer told me, theres a belief that if Anthem doesnt live up to EAs expectations, BioWare will look very different in the future, especially after the disappointment of Mass Effect Andromeda led to EA absorbing BioWare Montreal into the studio EA Motive.

Doesn't sound good for Bioware. Especially since Dragon Age was apparently rebooted...
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Darmik posted...

As one developer told me, theres a belief that if Anthem doesnt live up to EAs expectations, BioWare will look very different in the future,

BioWare was already ruined a little while after EA acquired them.
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EA basically has a gun to their head
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JustAndrew88 posted...

Darmik posted...

As one developer told me, theres a belief that if Anthem doesnt live up to EAs expectations, BioWare will look very different in the future,

BioWare was already ruined a little while after EA acquired them.

Wasn't ME 2 and 3 both EA?

They were great games.
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Bioware has been with EA since Dragon Age Origins (though they were acquired during the development of that game).
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I'm read for BioWare to die.

Fuck it.
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UnfairRepresent posted...

Wasn't ME 2 and 3 both EA?

They were great games.

BioWare wasn't completely ruined for those. Well 3 wasn't great. 1 and 2 were, 3 was not as good and the ending was stupid. After that BioWare was not the same BioWare. Just about every person from the original BioWare was gone after ME3.
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If they die, they die

rip
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I'd be surprised if this game wasn't envisioned with heavy reliance on microtransactions and now might be the worst time to have that as a focus after the clusters that were Battlefront 2 and Destiny 2 back-to-back. Consumers are more aware and informed of those shitty practices than ever right now.
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Once you sign with EA your studio is going to die, its just a matter of when.
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GG Bioware. I feel like there are already enough of these loot based shooter games on the market. I have zero interest in playing some souless EA shooter designed around loot boxes.
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Bioware fucked up when they got into bef with EA, its now their turn on the chopping block, they only have themselves to blame.

None of the founders are still there and the true talent has long since flown the coop, they will die its just a matter of how and when.

EA always intended on killing them off, they made great games that EA has slowly ruined over time.
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The Old Republic I bet gets shut down within the next 5 years.

The past year has been tumultuous for BioWare and involved some major changes to the studio. One was to reboot the fourth Dragon Age, which at the time was code-named Joplin, according to two sources. (Theres a running theme hereAnthems codename was Dylan.) The goal, those sources said, was to implement more live elements into the game, although two of those sources stressed that this next Dragon Age will still have a heavy focus on characters and story, whenever it does come out. Its not clear what a live version of Dragon Age might look like, but EA has been public about its embrace of games as a service, and its lack of interest in releasing $60 games that do not have any sort of revenue tail, whether that means paid extra content, microtransactions, or something else.

oh god
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Bringit posted...

I'd be surprised if this game wasn't envisioned with heavy reliance on microtransactions and now might be the worst time to have that as a focus after the clusters that were Battlefront 2 and Destiny 2 back-to-back. Consumers are more aware and informed of those shitty practices than ever right now.

Destiny 2 and BF2 both sold really well.

But they're also established IP's at this point while Anthem isn't. Competition will be tough.
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Darmik posted...

Destiny 2 and BF2 both sold really well.

BF2 hasn't sold as well as they were expecting. Given that it's Star Wars it should be easy as hell to reach expected numbers. But they managed to fuck that up.
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JustAndrew88 posted...

Darmik posted...

Destiny 2 and BF2 both sold really well.

BF2 hasn't sold as well as they were expecting. Given that it's Star Wars it should be easy as hell to reach expected numbers. But they managed to fuck that up.

EA's stock price are back up to record highs. BF2 was the 8th best selling game in the US in 2017. They're fine.
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>Anthem does poorly and Bioware gets shut down
>Anthem does well and Bioware is forced to make more lootcrate shooters


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Bioware gave me countless hours of fun and happiness. Some of the best games I ever played.

But

Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to
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Is there any fucking hype about Anthem at all? I don't know any people who have more than a passing interest in it.

Darmik posted...

Bioware has been with EA since Dragon Age Origins (though they were acquired during the development of that game).

I thought ME2 was also already in development when they were bought and ME3 was the only part of the trilogy that was 100% EA.

Anyway, it was nice knowing ya, Bioware.
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Don't worry, BioWare, the hole looks real nice! EA picked out a real nice spot! Hey, just between you and me, if you guys and EA/Activision/Bungie wanna keep doublin' down on these shitty MMO-esque microtransaction filled anti-consumer shooters, well that's just fine by me! You may not be loved among consumers, but you got my support! You just keep bein' you and runnin' towards this hole more. You may be fucking stupid, but God Bless ya all the same!
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Freddie_Mercury posted...

>Anthem does poorly and Bioware gets shut down
>Anthem does well and Bioware is forced to make more lootcrate shooters

oh god I didn't think of that

either way, the Bioware we loved is dead v_v
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Ivynn posted...

Darmik posted...

Bioware has been with EA since Dragon Age Origins (though they were acquired during the development of that game).

I thought ME2 was also already in development when they were bought and ME3 was the only part of the trilogy that was 100% EA.

Anyway, it was nice knowing ya, Bioware.

They were bought in October 2007 which was just a few weeks before ME1 released.

They probably had started pre-production for ME2 though yeah.
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Darmik posted...

Ivynn posted...

Darmik posted...

Bioware has been with EA since Dragon Age Origins (though they were acquired during the development of that game).

I thought ME2 was also already in development when they were bought and ME3 was the only part of the trilogy that was 100% EA.

Anyway, it was nice knowing ya, Bioware.

They were bought in October 2007 which was just a few weeks before ME1 released.

They probably had started pre-production for ME2 though yeah.

For some reason I thought they were bought later that but thanks for the correction
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-y8mu7EB8E

If I had the skills I would have put EA on Phoenix and Bioware on Raymond... >.>
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Darmik posted...

and piecing together the next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted

What do they mean by rebooted? They haven't started over on DA4 like they did with Andromeda, have they?
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@EverDownward

Your post got a chuckle out of me.
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

Darmik posted...

and piecing together the next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted

What do they mean by rebooted? They haven't started over on DA4 like they did with Andromeda, have they?

Apparently it's going to have "live" elements....
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

Darmik posted...

and piecing together the next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted

What do they mean by rebooted? They haven't started over on DA4 like they did with Andromeda, have they?

https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/12/16467044/dragon-age-creative-director-writer-mike-laidlaw-leaves-bioware

Probably does mean that yeah :/
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I swear if Dragon Age is a reboot and not a sequel to inquisition im gonna be so pissed.
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I4NRulez posted...

I swear if Dragon Age is a reboot and not a sequel to inquisition im gonna be so pissed.

also this

I want to punch Solas in the face again
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I4NRulez posted...

I swear if Dragon Age is a reboot and not a sequel to inquisition im gonna be so pissed.

Oh no I think they mean development of the game has been rebooted for live elements.

EA just couldn't copy the Witcher 3 success story could they...
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Looks like another vet abandoning the sinking ship, hope none of you DA fans are expecting much with DA 4, look at what happened with ME 4.
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When I read "live elements" I read "games as a service"

Enjoy another pseudo-MMO Dragon Age with even more grotesque monetization... Dragon Age is dead.
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Offworlder1 posted...

Looks like another vet abandoning the sinking ship, hope none of you DA fans are expecting much with DA 4, look at what happened with ME 4.

Laidlaw had been with the company for 14 years. It's certainly possible he was just tired and looking for something new.

And the situation isn't really comparable to Andromeda. That game was offloaded to a team of inexperienced developers who let EA run roughshod over them. The team working on DA4 know what they're doing.
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@UnholyMudcrab

Whatever helps you sleep at night.


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Yeah, the ME:A team had to crib much of the work the DA:I team already did with the engine
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$10 says Anthem will suck hard and Bioware will either dissolve or start making mobile games lol
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chill02 posted...

I4NRulez posted...

I swear if Dragon Age is a reboot and not a sequel to inquisition im gonna be so pissed.

also this

I want to punch Solas in the face again

you mean show your friend how hes wrong so hes good again :')
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

Offworlder1 posted...

Looks like another vet abandoning the sinking ship, hope none of you DA fans are expecting much with DA 4, look at what happened with ME 4.

Laidlaw had been with the company for 14 years. It's certainly possible he was just tired and looking for something new.

And the situation isn't really comparable to Andromeda. That game was offloaded to a team of inexperienced developers who let EA run roughshod over them. The team working on DA4 know what they're doing.

The game being rebooted 2-3 years into development with the lead developer leaving isn't a good sign.
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@Smashingpmkns

Most people I talk to dont even know wtf Anthem is nor why bioware is making a destiny,titanfall wannabe. Hell them making an online MP game is weird as shit to begin with, they make story driven SP not this shovelware.
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Darmik posted...

UnholyMudcrab posted...

Offworlder1 posted...

Looks like another vet abandoning the sinking ship, hope none of you DA fans are expecting much with DA 4, look at what happened with ME 4.

Laidlaw had been with the company for 14 years. It's certainly possible he was just tired and looking for something new.

And the situation isn't really comparable to Andromeda. That game was offloaded to a team of inexperienced developers who let EA run roughshod over them. The team working on DA4 know what they're doing.

The game being rebooted 2-3 years into development with the lead developer leaving isn't a good sign.

Don't forget they also lost David Gaider to Beamdog as well.
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Darmik posted...

UnholyMudcrab posted...

Offworlder1 posted...

Looks like another vet abandoning the sinking ship, hope none of you DA fans are expecting much with DA 4, look at what happened with ME 4.

Laidlaw had been with the company for 14 years. It's certainly possible he was just tired and looking for something new.

And the situation isn't really comparable to Andromeda. That game was offloaded to a team of inexperienced developers who let EA run roughshod over them. The team working on DA4 know what they're doing.

The game being rebooted 2-3 years into development with the lead developer leaving isn't a good sign.

I mean, like I said, though, we don't know what they mean by "rebooted." It could mean they completely scrapped it and started over (which I think is unlikely), it could mean they're retooling it to include whatever these live elements are, or it could just mean they had put it on hiatus while Anthem was being developed and some devs are now transferring back over.
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UnholyMudcrab posted...

I mean, like I said, though, we don't know what they mean by "rebooted." It could mean they completely scrapped it and started over (which I think is unlikely), it could mean they're retooling it to include whatever these live elements are, or it could just mean they had put it on hiatus while Anthem was being developed and some devs are now transferring back over.

I don't think any of these scenarios are a good sign for DA4. It's hard not to be concerned.

Seriously at this point we're coming up to 4 Bioware titles in a row that have had some sort of issues throughout development.
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JustAndrew88 posted...

Darmik posted...

As one developer told me, theres a belief that if Anthem doesnt live up to EAs expectations, BioWare will look very different in the future,

BioWare was already ruined a little while after EA acquired them.

Darmik posted...

next Dragon Age, which was recently rebooted

What the fuck?!
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I'm just hoping "live" elements means multiplayer and "rebooted" means they've not been working on it and are again now

But I know that is a fools dream :(
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