Key Takeaways
- • BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk, in his first interview since the studio's closure, called EA's August acquisition by a consortium of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners the "final nail in the coffin" for the Mass Effect studio, per 80.lv.
- • Zeschuk said EA is a "completely different company" from the one that acquired BioWare in 2007, and expects non-sports, non-Battlefield properties to be viewed as "extraneous" by the new owners.
- • Zeschuk disputed suggestions that BioWare faced insolvency before its 2007 EA acquisition, saying the studio was "in good shape" and was seeking funding for Star Wars: The Old Republic.
- • Zeschuk has no plans to return to games or seek the BioWare name and Mass Effect rights, while noting EA is still monetizing the franchise through a Mass Effect TV series in development at Amazon.
Summary
BioWare co-founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka left the Edmonton studio in 2012, months after the release of Mass Effect 3. Following the studio's closure last week under publisher Electronic Arts and its new private equity owners, Zeschuk gave his first interview since the company he founded in 1995 ended, speaking with 80.lv. He said he had processed his emotions long ago, having left BioWare 14 years earlier, but remained concerned for current staff who he said were being pushed into a difficult job market.
Zeschuk reflected on BioWare's 2007 acquisition by EA, which he said was not a rescue. He disputed claims that the company was in danger of going under, stating that the studio was "in good shape" and had "options." According to Zeschuk, the company was seeking additional funding for Star Wars: The Old Republic, then in development at the BioWare Austin office, and the team judged that joining a larger organization was the best available path. He described BioWare's later output, including titles that were less critically acclaimed than pre-Andromeda releases, as a success within EA's "framework."
On the current ownership, Zeschuk characterized EA's August acquisition by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners as the "final nail in the coffin," and said EA is now a "completely different company." He expects that properties outside sports and Battlefield may be regarded as "extraneous" by the new owners. He also criticized business leaders who, in his view, lack hands-on game development experience.
Zeschuk said he has no intention of returning to the games industry or seeking the BioWare name and Mass Effect rights. Separately, the report notes that EA is widely assumed to retain BioWare's IP, citing a former developer of the cancelled Mass Effect: Universe who said on a stream that the publisher "never actually sells anything." A Mass Effect television series in development at Amazon is unaffected by the closure, meaning EA continues to benefit from the franchise. Fans have also organized billboard campaigns calling for the series to be saved.
Zeschuk reflected on BioWare's 2007 acquisition by EA, which he said was not a rescue. He disputed claims that the company was in danger of going under, stating that the studio was "in good shape" and had "options." According to Zeschuk, the company was seeking additional funding for Star Wars: The Old Republic, then in development at the BioWare Austin office, and the team judged that joining a larger organization was the best available path. He described BioWare's later output, including titles that were less critically acclaimed than pre-Andromeda releases, as a success within EA's "framework."
On the current ownership, Zeschuk characterized EA's August acquisition by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners as the "final nail in the coffin," and said EA is now a "completely different company." He expects that properties outside sports and Battlefield may be regarded as "extraneous" by the new owners. He also criticized business leaders who, in his view, lack hands-on game development experience.
Zeschuk said he has no intention of returning to the games industry or seeking the BioWare name and Mass Effect rights. Separately, the report notes that EA is widely assumed to retain BioWare's IP, citing a former developer of the cancelled Mass Effect: Universe who said on a stream that the publisher "never actually sells anything." A Mass Effect television series in development at Amazon is unaffected by the closure, meaning EA continues to benefit from the franchise. Fans have also organized billboard campaigns calling for the series to be saved.
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