EA reportedly axes BioWare projects, including Mass Effect 5, favoring a new Star Wars: Battlefront as less risky.
This Saturday’s PC gaming news paints a rather unsettling picture for fans of BioWare and its iconic franchises. The studio, responsible for all-time greats like Mass Effect, has reportedly been sidelined by Electronic Arts (EA) in favor of developing a new Star Wars: Battlefront game. According to PC Gamer via Bloomberg, several factors have contributed to this decision, including the poor reception of Andromeda, the failure of Anthem as a live service, and the underwhelming sales of Veilguard.
The choice is reportedly also influenced by the recent shift in EA’s corporate structure, where Laura Miele, a long-time supporter of BioWare within EA, has been “sidelined”, altering the internal dynamics further. Additionally, EA’s leaning towards a Star Wars project is possibly influenced by its new stakeholders, following a private equity acquisition involving interests from Saudi Arabia and Kushner firms. The gaming community is bound to be vocal as this maneuver significantly alters the anticipated future line-up for RPG fans.
AI Controversies and Tech Developments
In other notable developments, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, sparked debate by claiming that there is a global inefficiency in local devices holding DRAM as opposed to centralizing this resource in data centers. This controversial stance was shared during an episode of the Cheeky Pint podcast, as reported by PC Gamer. Altman’s views have already stirred discussions on the future of personal computing and resource allocation, with impacts on pricing and availability for PC gaming components.
Meanwhile, GamingOnLinux reports an update to the Epic Games Launcher Preview aimed at improving login issues on Linux systems, a welcome improvement for gamers on alternative operating systems.
Community and Culture
Helldivers 2’s chief creative officer, Johan Pilestedt, speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, mused about creating a game that satirizes current AI technologies. However, he insists this hypothetical project should maintain a “quirky” tone rather than adopting a “doom-laden” approach.
Regarding future game development, Atari’s Terraria is “very close” to crossplay support, according to a new PCGamesN update. This long-awaited feature is almost certain to debut by year’s end, marking a significant milestone for the game’s community.
Lastly, Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 faced backlash in South Korea over its introductory cinematic, which allegedly mirrored a real-life tragedy. As reported, the company is updating the content following public criticism, a move illustrating the delicate balance between creativity and cultural sensitivity in video game production.
