The new boss of Electronic Arts developer BioWare has said that he wants to rebuild the studio’s reputation.
In one form or another, BioWare has been around since 1996 and has delivered some of the best RPG video games in the industry. Games such as Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Dragon Age Mass Effect, and more.
The games listed above have practically launched BioWare into legendary status. Unfortunately, it’s not always been wine and sunshine for the studio.
While the game is in a much better state now, when Mass Effect: Andromeda launched in 2017, it was in one hell of a buggy state. This was a catalyst for misfortunes to come.
It’s been a rough ride in recent years
Andromeda was supposed to be a new chapter in the Mass Effect series, but with the release of Mass Effect 4 on the horizon, it seems that BioWare wants you to forget about Andromeda.
Then we have 2019s Anthem. This was supposed to be EAs and BioWare’s take on the looter-shooter genre. To say that Anthem was a bit of a mess is an understatement. I think it’s fair to say that Anthem could have been the death of BioWare.
Thankfully in life, we can all learn from our mistakes, and considering that BioWare has had two consecutive troubled launches with Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, it no doubt gave the studio the opportunity to digest and refocus.
Looking to a positive future
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition released this year and it included remasters of the original trilogy with no Andromeda in sight. This remastered collection helped to extend an olive branch to BioWare fans and, for the most part, the collection has been well-received.
BioWare is now in a transitional period and it’s a perfect time to wipe the slate clean and concentrate on what’s to come from the studio. This is why it’s so fortunate that the next games from the studio will be a brand-new Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
To help dawn BioWare into a new era, EA has appointed former Interim General Manager, Gary McKay as the permanent GM. The news was announced on BioWare.com.
It’s time to rebuild Bioware
One of the first priorities set by McKay is to rebuild the damaged reputation of BioWare. “For me, success is all about rebuilding that reputation, and delivering on that promise of quality,” said McKay in a statement.
McKay began his career in the video game industry with EA back in 1998 and now his career has come full circle.
“I started my career in the industry with EA back in 1998,” said McKay, “and it was so exciting to see the studio and company grow in the early days. I spent the next seven years with EA before moving on. But now you could say I’ve come full circle.”
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” he continues. “When you spend over 20 years in the industry, there are a small handful of studios on your bucket list in terms of teams you’d want to work with — and BioWare is at the top of my list.
“This studio is unique in that it has an incredible history of building critically successful games and universes that are truly beloved by so many fans.”
Looking ahead into BioWare’s future, McKay said the studio is: “laser-focused on releasing the types of games BioWare has built a reputation on,” he says: “high-quality console, PC, and online RPG games with rich stories, unforgettable characters, and vast worlds.
“We continue to work on the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect — and this is a milestone year being the 10th anniversary with more to come from Star Wars: The Old Republic.”
Do you believe that Gary McKay and BioWare will deliver on their promises? Let us know across our social media channels.
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Featured Image Credit: EA/BioWare