New Bioware IP Pushed Back to 2019

Bioware is in a strange position where it’s kind of beloved for what it’s supposed to be, and less for what it produces. It’s well known for producing epic role-playing games with huge, spanning stories full of interesting characters, quippy dialogue, and breathtaking visuals… and yet, as of late, it seems Bioware isn’t quite able to live up to its own reputation. Dragon Age: Inquisition was well-liked enough, but it was far from universally adored and it’s certainly aged poorly in a post-Witcher 3 world. And the less said about Mass Effect: Andromeda, the better.

With some less-than-stellar performances and sales, it’s only natural that BioWare would want to explore something new, perhaps break away from the niche it currently corners. Unfortunately, if you’re sitting on crossed fingers waiting for that to happen, I’ve got some bad news: EA is pushing back the launch of their first new IP until sometime in 2019.

The news comes to us from EA CEO Andrew Wilson (via The Escapist) during an earnings call the other day, who claimed that an intricate “live service” was the main cause of the push-back, forcing them to abandon the earlier release date of “Before March 2018” And push it a year ahead.

"The design is stunning. Gameplay mechanics are excellent, and the action will be exhilarating. The game is built around a live service, and through our creative process, we decided to add more to the disruptive new social design for our players. To accommodate that, we are moving the launch date for this project into fiscal year '19"

If you’re anything like me, an EA executive promising anything close to a “live service” is enough to put butterflies in your stomach, but with any luck, the company will embrace the slightly friendlier attitude it’s been using as of late and produce something that’s way less scary than we’re afraid of.

But I wouldn’t stop crossing my fingers if I were you.