The Rise and Fall of BioWare Under EA

BioWare was once the gold standard for RPGs, delivering groundbreaking narratives, deep character interactions, and beloved franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age. However, its journey under Electronic Arts (EA) has been nothing short of tumultuous.

Greg Zeschuk, BioWare’s co-founder, recently revealed that he and his team once dreamed of taking over EA from the inside—an ambition that ultimately fell short. But what led to this dream? And what does it say about BioWare’s evolution under EA?

Let’s take a deep dive into BioWare’s story, from its rise as an RPG powerhouse to the challenges it faced under EA’s leadership.

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BioWare’s Acquisition by EA: A Turning Point

In 2007, EA acquired VG Holding Corp., which owned both BioWare and Pandemic Studios. At the time, BioWare had already made a name for itself with legendary titles like Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire.

The acquisition wasn’t immediately seen as a disaster. In fact, BioWare’s first few years under EA were highly successful. Mass Effect (2007) and Mass Effect 2 (2010) were critically acclaimed, and Dragon Age: Origins (2009) solidified BioWare’s reputation as the RPG king of the late 2000s.

Zeschuk himself admitted that BioWare had “a pretty successful run” during this period. But behind the scenes, things were changing.

The Downward Spiral: Why BioWare Struggled Under EA

EA’s Business Model: "Exploiting Properties"

Zeschuk never liked big corporations, and EA proved why. In his own words:

“Big companies exist to exploit properties. They exist to exploit games. Most of the big North American guys, they’re just good at ‘Hey, let’s just squeeze the most money out of this franchise.’”

Under EA, BioWare’s creative freedom slowly eroded, with a greater focus on live-service models, microtransactions, and rushed development cycles.

Star Wars: The Old Republic – A $2 Billion Dream That Never Was

In 2011, BioWare released Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR), a massive MMORPG that was supposed to challenge World of Warcraft. Zeschuk spent over two years in Austin, Texas, working on the project.

Had SWTOR been a multi-billion-dollar success, he and fellow co-founder Ray Muzyka planned to stage a takeover from within EA, steering the company towards a more developer-friendly future. But despite its initial hype, SWTOR never reached those heights.

“If it was super successful, super duper successful, Ray and I would have probably launched a bid to try and take over EA from the inside.”

When that failed, Zeschuk saw no future at BioWare and left in 2012.

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Post-Zeschuk BioWare: Decline and Struggles

With Zeschuk and Muzyka gone, BioWare was left under EA’s full control, leading to:

Mass Effect 3 (2012): The Controversial Ending

• ME3 was praised for its gameplay but received backlash for its unsatisfying ending.
• Fans accused EA of rushing the game’s development.

Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014): The Last Great BioWare RPG?

• A massive open-world RPG, DA:I was a critical and commercial success.
• However, internal reports suggested BioWare was already struggling under EA’s management.

Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017): A Development Disaster

• Rushed production and frostbite engine limitations led to unfinished animations and lackluster storytelling.
• The game damaged the franchise’s reputation.

Anthem (2019): BioWare’s Biggest Failure

• EA forced BioWare to develop a live-service game.
• Anthem had a troubled development cycle, and the final product failed to impress.

Can BioWare Recover?

Today, BioWare is working on:

• Dragon Age: Dreadwolf – A highly anticipated sequel, but its long development raises concerns.
• Mass Effect 4 – In development, but EA’s involvement remains a wildcard.

The question remains: can BioWare reclaim its former glory, or is it doomed to be a shadow of its past?

Final Thoughts: A Studio in Crisis or a Possible Comeback?

BioWare’s journey under EA has been filled with highs and lows. The Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises thrived early on, but EA’s focus on live-service models and rushed releases hurt the studio’s reputation.

With Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and Mass Effect 4 on the horizon, fans are hopeful for a comeback. But if these games fail, BioWare’s future may be in serious jeopardy.

One thing is clear—BioWare is no longer the same studio that gave us Baldur’s Gate and KOTOR. Whether it can reignite its creative spark or continue its downward spiral remains to be seen.

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FAQs

Did EA ruin BioWare?

While EA introduced corporate pressures and live-service models, BioWare still produced great games under its ownership. However, the forced focus on monetization and rushed timelines led to major failures like Anthem.

Why did Greg Zeschuk leave BioWare?

Zeschuk disliked EA’s big-corporation mentality and preferred creating games over managing a business. When SWTOR failed to be a $2 billion success, his plan to take over EA was no longer viable, leading to his departure.

What is BioWare working on now?

BioWare is currently developing Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and a new Mass Effect game.

Will BioWare ever be independent again?

Unless EA sells BioWare, it will remain under EA’s control. However, if future titles fail, EA might shut down the studio, similar to what happened with Visceral Games.

Stay tuned for more updates on GetJar!