Founded over two decades ago, BioWare is a development studio that's become synonymous with the role-playing genre. It's the company behind modern franchises like Dragon Age and Mass Effect, both of which allow you to shape your own story through player choice and interactions with diverse casts of characters. When we think of BioWare, we think of dialogue wheels, party members, and tactical combat - we certainly don't think of action.
However, according to EA, the Canadian developer may have an action title in the works. At the publisher's recent investor meeting, BioWare was listed under the 'action' genre in one of company's presentation slides. EA apparently believes that the aforementioned genre will contribute in a big way to the publisher's overall growth, alongside shooters like Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2.
Now, we know that BioWare's currently working on at least two projects: one is Mass Effect: Andromeda, and the other is an unannounced property. If this supposed action game really is happening, then we may have just gotten our first hint as to what that unannounced project might entail. Either way, we're sure that once Andromeda has blasted off, we'll be hearing more about what the studio has in store for the future.
How would you feel abut BioWare branching out beyond RPGs? Do you think the developer has what it takes to make an action title? Forget all about strategic combat in the comments section below.
[source gamespot.com]
Comments 15
Feel like they've been on this course for a while though. Their games have gradually been streamlined to the extent that an action game isn't too much of a leap (you could plausibly pose the question: how much of an RPG is ME3?). Plus considering the difficulty they have in balancing branching choices across franchises, it might suit their storytelling better if they tried to do a contained action-focused narrative.
Id say Mass Effect is an action game with RPG elements personally
I am hoping we get a Mass Effect trilogy remaster for this generation - Just seen the return to Arkham trailer for the 2 Rocksteady games so hoping we get ME:R next...
Its hard to get excited about Bioware doing an 'Action' game - purely because for me, these depend very much on the story, the setting and the game-play and without those, I can't get too excited
Um, isn't ME:A the action game? Mass Effect is basically a 3rd person shooter with light rpg elements...
Mass Effect 3 is almost an action game (a good one by the way) that said I wish that Bioware is working on a new Kotor, a offline and good one.
The first game was RPG the 2nd less RPG and more shooting the then the third was shooter with some RPG. Not that I do not love the games but they are more action based now than RPG. Still very strong stories but would like to go back more to the style of the first game. So really they have been making action games for a while now.
I would like to see a remaster but not sure the situation has been helped by the backwards compatibilty of Xbob you can still play all the games on the current system. EA have stated they will not remaster the series. One thing is whatever the game Bioware can tell a good story.
I like mass effect .but I didn't like Dragon age inquisition.I like evil within better than Dragon age inquisition
BioWare get's a lot of hate but they are still one of my favorites in the business. I will keep an eye on anything they do.
Great - another developer bites the dust EA style.
Hey you best in the business for RPG games....... make an action game. Great practice right there. Rockstar would start developing my little pony games if EA had its way.
Is that a third game then? They're working on a Star Wars game as well as far as I know.
If it's a new IP AND a new genre for them...I reeeally hope they make the game self-contained and go wild with the choices and possible endings, just in case it bombs and there's no follow-up! I think the "sequel" mentality greatly restricts the narrative potential of these kind of choose-your-adventure style games.
Baldur's Gate, KotOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect (First one) and DA Origins, probably their last RPGs they made. Arguably all their other games have been in the action genre.
@themcnoisy Really? Gotta agree they havn't made a true RPG in ages..and you hated DA:O lol.
I reckon ME:A is the action game EA are talking about.
@ApostateMage And NWN
@kyleforrester87 ME1,2 and parts of 3 were phenomenal games. Regardless of the ending of 3 (which I didn't mind if I'm honest) the gameplay went down roads I was uncomfortable with. Even the dodgy context sensitive button presses near the start of the disc felt at odds with the previous instalments, the dialogue options and equipment levelling were also nerfed. DAI was a different beast, I dislike it for different reasons to me3, but at least its rammed with content and rpg elements. I think once the 3 original members of Bioware left the soul had gone. Much like an mgs game without Kojima or Terminator films without James Cameron. I have no idea why EA swallow these firms up and ruin them, Criterion is an example - just what the hell happened to that outfit?
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