Key Takeaways
- • Greg Zeschuk, BioWare co-founder who left the studio in 2012, told 80.lv that EA's August acquisition by a private equity consortium was the "final nail in the coffin" for the Mass Effect studio.
- • Zeschuk described EA as a "completely different company" from the one that acquired BioWare in 2007, and said he expects non-sports, non-Battlefield properties to be viewed as "extraneous" by the new owners.
- • Zeschuk disputed claims that BioWare faced insolvency before the 2007 EA deal, saying the studio was "in good shape" and was seeking funding for The Old Republic.
- • Zeschuk has no plans to return to game development or seek back the BioWare name and Mass Effect rights.
Summary
BioWare co-founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka left the Edmonton studio in 2012, months after Mass Effect 3 launched. In his first interview since the studio's closure, Zeschuk told 80.lv that he had already processed his departure from BioWare years earlier, but still offered views on how the closure unfolded. The studio was shut down last week by publisher EA, which is now owned by a consortium of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners following an August acquisition.
Zeschuk characterized the private equity acquisition as the "final nail in the coffin" and said EA is now a "completely different company" than the one that bought BioWare in 2007. He expects that titles outside sports and Battlefield may be regarded as "extraneous" by the new owners. He also expressed concern for remaining BioWare staff, who he said are being pushed into a difficult job market.
Zeschuk rejected suggestions that BioWare would have collapsed without the 2007 EA deal, stating the company was "in good shape" and had other options. He said the company was seeking additional funding for The Old Republic, then in development at the BioWare Austin office, and that EA was judged the best available path. He also criticized business-side leadership in the industry, saying those executives often lack hands-on development experience.
Zeschuk has no intention of returning to games or reclaiming the BioWare name or Mass Effect rights. The article notes that EA is expected to retain BioWare's IP, and that a Mass Effect TV series in development at Amazon is unaffected by the studio's shutdown.
Zeschuk characterized the private equity acquisition as the "final nail in the coffin" and said EA is now a "completely different company" than the one that bought BioWare in 2007. He expects that titles outside sports and Battlefield may be regarded as "extraneous" by the new owners. He also expressed concern for remaining BioWare staff, who he said are being pushed into a difficult job market.
Zeschuk rejected suggestions that BioWare would have collapsed without the 2007 EA deal, stating the company was "in good shape" and had other options. He said the company was seeking additional funding for The Old Republic, then in development at the BioWare Austin office, and that EA was judged the best available path. He also criticized business-side leadership in the industry, saying those executives often lack hands-on development experience.
Zeschuk has no intention of returning to games or reclaiming the BioWare name or Mass Effect rights. The article notes that EA is expected to retain BioWare's IP, and that a Mass Effect TV series in development at Amazon is unaffected by the studio's shutdown.
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