In an update on Shadow Realms, Bioware Austin’s General Manager Jeff Hickman killed the developing IP in almost the same breath as promoting current and upcoming ones. Hickman claims there was good feedback on the game so far, but the team instead decided to focus on other projects, with some interesting priority choices. Join me after the break as I discuss and analyze what was revealed in the wake of the Shadow Realms cancellation.
Hickman said that Bioware has “[…]an incredibly talented team here at the Austin studio, and they are excited and already deep on new projects within the BioWare family,” which “[…]include additional ongoing enhancements to the award-winning Dragon Age: Inquisition, as well as the next game in the Mass Effect series and other new IP.”
Sticking with DA:I is an interesting move, in that the game is already known for having quite a bit of content. It was so big, in fact, that Kotaku’s reviewer delayed his review of the game even after spending 85 hours completing it and still not feeling as if he had finished the game enough to give it the write-up it deserved. To give additional content to a game of that size is generous to say the least, but doesn’t seem like it’s enough to occupy the whole time.
Next is developing the next Mass Effect game. It’s interesting to note that Hickman didn’t just say ME4. Is that meant to be a clue? We’ll have to wait and see.
Reminders of a new IP, outside of the one just canceled, is interesting, in that it shows that Bioware still wants to expand it’s roster of IPs despite killing off Shadow Realm. Is there more faith in that project, or some contractional obligation?
But I think Hickman’s biggest reveal, for me personally, is his final announcement:
But the biggest focus for our team in BioWare Austin will be on Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. As every Star Wars™ fan knows, this is a massive year in the Star Wars universe. We have some great plans for expanding this epic game this year, and look forward to sharing the news about those plans with our players in the coming weeks.”
Anyone in the MMO world can tell you that Star Wars: The Old Republic simply did not perform half as well as fans and developers had hoped. The game doesn’t seem to be in any danger of going offline since converting to a free-to-play model, but for Bioware to say that their biggest focus will be on the MMO that couldn’t maintain monthly fees against the aging World of Warcraft is not a move I’d expect.
As a former player, I simply haven’t been able to return in about a year, as tempting as the last story leveling promotion was. SW:TOR fans must be excited, but personally, I’m confused, though maybe I’m alone in this. We’ll have to wait and see what this new focus leads to.
For the official update, check here.
Original Author: Laguna Levine