„EA gives you enough rope to hang yoursel.” BioWare co-founder recalls working at the studio

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Greg Zeschuk doesn’t hold particularly positive recollections of his time at BioWare during its tenure with Electronic Arts, yet he doesn’t believe EA significantly contributed to BioWare in a negative manner.

It had been discussed earlier that the founder of the studio was planning to assume leadership at Electronic Arts, but those plans didn’t materialize, and he eventually departed from the company. This apparent decision seems to be linked to the dynamic between his team and the publisher, based on a conversation with Simon Parkin (from the My Perfect Console podcast on PC Gamer).

Rope from EA and freedom of BioWare

Zeschuk was straightforward in his speech and said that Electronic Arts provides you with enough freedom to potentially cause your own downfall, a sentiment expressed about adjusting to their system. Interestingly, despite being content with how things went for BioWare, this experience further solidified his dislike for large corporations. Consequently, within two years of the takeover by EA, he had already made up his mind to leave the company (as reported by Eurogamer).

It could be surprising, nonetheless, that Zeschuk refuted widespread speculations suggesting EA was exerting control over BioWare – instead, they were giving the studio autonomy. Certain actions from the developers left EA’s executives perplexed, like creating games for Facebook or mobile devices under a veil. Zeschuk asserted that some of the most problematic practices, particularly the culture of crunch, already existed within the studio before it was acquired.

In essence, one might counter the common assertion that EA negatively impacted BioWare following the acquisition, by pointing out instances where another team was given autonomy – as long as they managed to keep Electronic Arts at bay in their operations. Additionally, recent struggles faced by BioWare can be used as evidence by proponents of this viewpoint.

For additional reasons behind this reluctance, we’ve previously discussed it. Zeschuk suggests that major corporations primarily aim to “take advantage” of their brands. This perspective is somewhat similar to the views expressed by Gearbox Software’s leader about publishers’ apprehensions towards innovation. Balancing act is required here: on one side, there are the enthusiasts’ expectations; on the other, the investors’. As he pointed out, when it comes to popular franchises, significant sums of money are at stake, which can cause unease among decision-makers.

Xbox and Jade Empire

Beyond the impact, or lack thereof, of EA on BioWare’s decisions, Zeschuk also disclosed some fascinating insights from his development career. One such revelation was a regrettable choice by BioWare, which they implemented based on Microsoft’s advice.

Discussing the debut of the game titled “Jade Empire“, more precisely, its introduction on the original Xbox gaming system. Microsoft, being the Redmond corporation, persuaded Zeschuk that launching this Asian-themed RPG towards the end of this platform’s life was a wise decision.

Reflecting on it now, the creator referred to it as a “complete blunder.” The first Xbox failed to set sales records (the PlayStation 2, released 1.5 years prior, dominated this generation), and by the end of its lifespan, it was seldom bought. Given the anticipation for the Xbox 360, which has remained Microsoft’s most successful console to date, it’s no surprise that everyone was eagerly awaiting its release.

About contentious choices, the developer additionally discussed the conclusion of Mass Effect 3, a point that left players dissatisfied enough for BioWare to launch an extended version. However, Zeschuk wasn’t deeply involved in this (as he was engrossed in the development of Star Wars: The Old Republic), but he believes the developers had “honorable” intentions.

The maker also emphasized a challenge faced by a widely recognized brand: pressure from both devoted followers and large corporations to adhere to deadlines. Rather than rushing to meet these demands, he and Ray Muzyka (co-founder of BioWare) opted to delay the release until they could produce the finest game possible.

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2025-02-27 12:32