Microsoft and BioWare talk Mass Effect's future
by Dustin Burg 
{ Oct 12th 2007 at 11:30AM }
Late yesterday news broke that EA shelled out the big bucks for both Pandemic Studios and BioWare, leaving everyone wondering what Mass Effect's future will hold. Microsoft was first to make a statement confirming that Mass Effect was on schedule for its November release, but that the IP is wholly owned by BioWare and not Microsoft. Further expanding the discussion Microsoft hinted at the fact that the EA acquisition of BioWare now makes exclusivity of the Mass Effect franchise on the 360 less than concrete saying that they haven't "yet announced specifics regarding sequels to Mass Effect", but will "be talking to EA and BioWare in the weeks to come." Interesting stuff indeed.Soon after, Gamespot posted a Q&A session they had with BioWare's co-founders post EA acquisition where they specifically asked about the future of the Mass Effect franchise, where it was headed and who'd be publishing future titles now that their company is under EA's helm. BioWare's response was less than comforting. "We can't predict the future. We'll see what happens. The key thing is we're making a trilogy of Mass Effect games, and we've got a great story arc." Ouch. Hopefully everything gets smoothed over and Microsoft can strike a deal with EA and BioWare to make sure Mass Effect sequels end up on the 360 and beyond. Because for some reason we have a feeling this Mass Effect thing is going to be big ... really big.
Read - Microsoft's response to BioWare acquisition
Read - Gamespot Q&A
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DemonGSides @ Oct 12th 2007 11:36AM
I think it will be exclusive. Read what they said "We've got a great story arc".
A story arc is nothing without a beginning third.
xenocidic @ Oct 12th 2007 11:37AM
Prediction: EA will do massive damage to the franchise
CameronA @ Oct 12th 2007 11:41AM
Well, they're not entirely sure it's going to be exclusive for the first one as well now, so as soon as it is announced to be multi-platform..They might be ordered to work on a PS3 version as well, for later release.
Who knows..But its going to be interesting to see how things go. Hopefully EA wont spoil these games, they look promising.
Dadidito @ Oct 12th 2007 11:47AM
This will be multiplatform, there really isn't there to say otherwise. It's EA, they don't discriminate. Interesting will be to see what damage will happen to the Mass Effect IP from EA's whims. I don't believe it will be business as usual over there anymore.
Mark @ Oct 12th 2007 11:59AM
The employees of Bioware can up an leave and start a new company. They just have to leave the Bioware name and Mass Effect IP.
Anticrawl @ Oct 12th 2007 12:01PM
Regardless of what happens, the sequals will be on the 360 in some form. The thing to discuss here is whether or not it will come to other systems as well, which is possible now that EA owns them. I imagine it will be atleast a 360/PC multiplatform thing, perhaps the PS3 will get some love as well, who knows.
Mark @ Oct 12th 2007 12:05PM
This is how it happened. Read the last line.
Menlo Park, Calif., Feb. 26, 2007 — VG Holding, the operating company of BioWare/Pandemic Studios, today announced the appointment of Greg Richardson as CEO. BioWare/Pandemic Studios was formed in November 2005 through the fusion of two leading independent video game developers and private equity firm Elevation Partners. John Riccitiello, who previously served as the part-time CEO for VG Holding and was a partner with Elevation Partners, has resigned to become the CEO of Electronic Arts.
Tony @ Oct 12th 2007 12:13PM
MS is still publishing the first one, obviously... so I have to imagine they'll have a significant say and stake in its future.
Knight Marquise @ Oct 12th 2007 12:15PM
Damn I hate EA.
DjChad @ Oct 12th 2007 12:18PM
If this game goes multi-platform expect a huge decrease in quality for the sequels. Its that simple. Thanks EA!
intRvenous @ Oct 12th 2007 12:28PM
ditto @10. EA is all about the $$$ which means pimping-it out to as many platforms as possible.
More platforms = less attention to detail = games suffer.
On the plus side, I can't wait for in-game adds! They still have Coke in the distant future, right?!
intRvenous @ Oct 12th 2007 12:30PM
"Commander Shepard, we're arriving at the Miller High Life mass effect relay." < cue Miller High Life delivery guy >
E J Wizard @ Oct 12th 2007 12:45PM
This really sucks. EA is okay for mass market games, but they kill anything that creativity is required for. (Like quality RPGs)
DjDATZ @ Oct 12th 2007 1:23PM
Ummm...this sucks. because it's EA, it'll probably get whored out to all the other next-gen systems.
Fuck you EA, you dirty whores. Let's hope Peter Moore can pull some strings and get it exclusive to the 360.
And if Bioware has any say in it, I have a feeling it'll stay exclusive to the 360. HOPEFULLY.
Sam @ Oct 12th 2007 1:24PM
what a shame. Well if MS shells out enough dough, maybe, just maybe, they can make it Xbox exclusive. I mean, they paid 50 mil for GTA booster packs so like..200 mil per game isn't all that unreasonable, right? right?
WiseGuy @ Oct 12th 2007 1:29PM
WTF?!? Why does EA have to get their infectious dirty freaking hands on everything. I really hate that company. Every game they touch turns to crap. I was really looking forward to this franchise. Why the hell is Microsoft losing all their first party developer's? Is this the way of the industry now, or just companies associated with Microsoft. It's no secret the 360 is the most success NEXT GEN console on the market. Why can't they keep exclusive developers? They have the installed base and money to back it.
WiseGuy @ Oct 12th 2007 1:32PM
The only way this could come out good is if Microsoft bought EA. Maybe swapping positions between EA and Micosoft (PETER MOORE)... thats what is going on behind the scenes. Ha ha. Not really. Just a thought.
Clay @ Oct 12th 2007 1:46PM
God, I hope it does come to the ps3. It's be the best thing that ever happened.
Boff @ Oct 12th 2007 2:16PM
Yeah like others have said, the sequels will still be coming to the 360 but I'm doubtful they'll be exclusive.
Bill needs to give Peter a ring and call in some favours...
MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Oct 12th 2007 2:30PM
EA exclusive? ^_^ even the wii might see mass effect at this rate! LOL. so even the PS3 will see this game someday.
Cameron @ Oct 12th 2007 2:31PM
I need some of that alien sex.... lol.
Hoopin4theHeart @ Oct 15th 2007 4:35PM
I have an idea BOYCOTT ANYTHING EA MAKES, that includes any good games they make as well, if we dont buy ea games they will go away and other wanna be EAs will be forced to change there practices.
the way to do it is never buy an ea game only obtain them through trade ins, rental or STOLEN.
yeah i said it STOLEN FUCK YOU EA AND YOUR MOMMAS MOMMAS not to mention you pappas...
ea=fox news of video games, ea=bush admin of video games..........onkly bad can come from them and only comsumers can fight them DONT BUY ANYTHING EA. all they do is sell you the same crappy game 4 times a years, need for speed, madden, ncaa basketabll,football, fifa........ect same shit every year stop BUYING IT. this is the only way we can stop them.
BlackBeltJones @ Oct 12th 2007 2:41PM
I think the problem for other platforms if the sequels did go mulitplatform is that they are coming in 1/3 of the story late. Story arc wise it would be like never seeing the original star wars but then watching Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, you could still enjoy it but you'd be missing out. Plus didn't Bioware talk about how Mass Effect 2 & 3 would read Mass Effect 1's save data so it would know what you did and alter the universe to that? Whatever happens I'm glad that they will on be on the 360, I'm not going to complain like all the PS3 Fanboys (Read:Selfish) that don't want MGS4 to go onto any other console (even though it will).
TORO @ Oct 12th 2007 2:48PM
Do not worry everyone. Even if they DO a PS3 release, ported games are crap compared to the 360. We will always have the upper hand!
Will @ Oct 12th 2007 5:00PM
I gotta agree with TORO; even with the PS3's supposed superior graphics and all of that other crap that it claims to have, Mass Effect will still look better on the 360.
soldrak @ Oct 12th 2007 10:32PM
if you people hate EA so much then why do you keep buying their games. i swear, if i hear of another american buying Madden 200X or NHL 200X which is exactly the same piece of shit as Madden 1997 or NHL 1997 except with purtier graphics I'm gonna go ballistic and start shooting random people!
jules c @ Oct 14th 2007 9:38PM
Just give us a good game on time. Remember people, their was a time when playstation games came out before xbox. So gives us our mass effect on time.
UNCCShannon @ Oct 15th 2007 5:46PM
Does anyone know of the song "Another One Bites the Dust?" That is what will happen to the great RPGs that we have come to expect from Bioware. EA destroys another competitor and makes the possibility of creativity less for all.
mark cuevas @ Nov 12th 2007 10:31PM
Stupid EA and BIoware is much to blame for this too, So does this mean that if Bioware Austin makes an MMO it will also be owned by EA HA! they are the worst company that deals with Customers in a good way, an MMO relies heavily on a company for 110% customer support I don't think EA can deliver, it is a greedy, overpowered, defunct company, PS3 owners screw you, you wish you can get your paws on a game like this!