BioWare working on 'unannounced AAA project'?

Source: A former employee's resume spotted by the online game-info crate-digger behind the Superannuation blog. What we heard: BioWare is a busy company. Besides this fall's high fantasy role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins, the Edmonton, Alberta-headquarted developer is prepping the high sci-fi...

Source: A former employee's resume spotted by the online game-info crate-digger behind the Superannuation blog.

What we heard: BioWare is a busy company. Besides this fall's high fantasy role-playing game Dragon Age: Origins, the Edmonton, Alberta-headquarted developer is prepping the high sci-fi role-playing game Mass Effect 2, which scored a GameSpot E3 2009 Editors' Choice Award. Another winner was Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the massively multiplayer RPG from BioWare's Austin, Texas, studio. To help out, the company also recently opened a branch inside the Montreal campus of its corporate parent, Electronic Arts.

This week, information surfaced that the prestigious shop may be working on yet another all-new IP. During one of its semiregular sweeps of the Internet, Superannuation picked up on the resume of a developer who worked as the "Principle [sic] Lead Designer" of "an unannounced 'AAA' project" at BioWare.

The designer left just this past April--long after the existence of all BioWare's current games were made public--meaning the title is likely still under wraps. He described his work on the project thusly: "Responsibilities include[d] the creation of a new IP and managing a team of designers, writers and level designers." (Emphasis added.) The reference to "new IP" appears to indicate the "New Next Gen Game" on BioWare's official site may be an all-new property, and not a relaunch of a classic franchise like the Baldur's Gate reboot Atari announced last December.

The official story: Multiple requests for comment sent to BioWare had not been answered as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: Looking not bogus--and not terribly surprising. A company of BioWare's size, talent, and creative ambition almost certainly has at least one unannounced game in the works.

170 Comments

  • MafiaBroad82

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:24 am PT

    Jade Empire 2, PLEASE!!!!

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 11:17 pm PT

    KOTOR 3!!!!!!!!!!

  • dentui

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 1:10 am PT

    KOTOR 3? I REALLY HOPE SO. KOTOR 1 and 2 left me wanting for more!.

  • WereAllCritics

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 8:04 am PT

    please give us jade empire 2 or roman gladiator rpg or greek mythology rpg

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 1:09 am PT

    i hope its its RPG again. Not starwars *cough* Mass Effect *cough* (well i love mass effect. in fact second fav game after Oblivion, but it is Star wars with out light sabers) perhaps Renaissance game as it seems to be the trend at the moment. Empire TW, Assassins Creed 2.

  • BenBenBen93

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 1:04 am PT

    Bioware. you've never made a bad game.

  • Fuzzy__Slipperz

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 9:49 pm PT

    @NovakainePunk
    a AAA game is a game that sells extremely good and has great reviews. Examples are Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc.

  • NovakainePuNK

    Posted Jun 25, 2009 10:45 am PT

    Can someone explain what a "AAA" game is? I've heard it tossed around a lot, but never figured it out. I can only guess it means high quality of some sort...

  • pilatin1

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 8:59 pm PT

    BioWare Is The Best 4Ever

  • Shell_Kracker

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:50 am PT

    I would have liked a Jade Empire style game...

    ...set in India's mythology this time, rather than Chinese.

  • dark_k

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 7:23 am PT

    This news annoys me somewhat, I was really hoping for Jade Empire 2. It would be a shame for a rich universe like JE to be forgotten. Altough saying that Im curious to find out what the new IP is, hopefully the setting and gameplay style will be something that hasnt been explored in RPGs. I am in full support of the rest of the Bioware announced titles and am eagerly awaiting DA:O

  • Uzriz

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 3:01 am PT

    Hmmm so they're doing Sci-Fi, Old Fantasy and Star Wars universe games. What does that leave for a potential RPG ? JADE EMPIRE !!! Please let it be Jade Empire, that game had so much potential for lore and combat.

    -U-

  • CHEATSman115

    Posted Jun 21, 2009 7:18 pm PT

    Bioware is awesome and all the games sound awesome.

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Jun 21, 2009 7:12 am PT

    I love Bioware but I do not care what they said I will continue to wait for Kotor3.
    I have zero interest in "The Old Republic".
    I am looking forward to Dragon age and Mass Effect 2 though.

  • T0012

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 1:34 pm PT

    Maybe Bioware is just trying to offer what people have been asking for, i for one know any game they put out is normally a great game. So maybe they're giving us a new game to get hooked on that could be another franchise game like mass effect.

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 9:14 am PT

    6 months into the future Bioware will announce that the new game is a Jade Empire MMORPG....

  • K_M82

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 6:35 pm PT

    wow 4 (dragon age, mass effect 2, old republic, and this new game) concurrent project? i've never heard bioware take up that many project at the same time. usually it's only 1 or 2 concurrent project. i wonder if this is because they're with EA now so they can be a lot more generous now.

  • Bivibob

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 3:33 pm PT

    Maybe video game companies don't care about the spelling on your resume, but then again, maybe he should correct the spelling of "principal" just to be safe.

  • blacknail7

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 3:13 pm PT

    Of all the developers, BioWare's impressing me the most lately. I'm optimistic this will turn out alright.

  • man_alive

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    If he was the lead designer and is now out of work, maybe this title has been cancelled already...

  • Gamer_4_Fun

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 1:33 pm PT

    its een a long time bioware made a triple a title.

  • moe725

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    a maby

  • Barighm

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 11:58 am PT

    Little worried that EA will find a way to ruin this, but they do seem to be learning from their mistakes, and I do remember them saying they plan to let Bioware run the show. Less EA doing their thing and more EA giving Bioware whatever money they need to work their magic. Bioware has low turnover, and that makes a difference, so unless that has been changed...don't see why Bioware can't continue to be one of the best for years to come.

  • Melty123

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 11:39 am PT

    Sounds good.

  • lightwarrior179

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 10:24 am PT

    It could be a new IP. Or perhaps a sequel to Jade Empire?
    I doubt they will resurrect Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale since all the rights are with Atari,at the moment. Still,I am excited about whatever they're working on.

  • couly

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 6:40 am PT

    The KOTOR MMO IS KOTOR 3 and 4,5,6,7,8.

  • dbpvivi posted Jun 19, 2009 3:02 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    dbpvivi

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 3:02 am PT (hide)

    Looking at Bioware's recent track record we know the following:

    -It will cater to a Mainstream audience
    -It will be a RPG/something hybrid
    -It will be available for 360/ps3/PC
    -It will run between 10-20 hours- possible in several parts.
    -There will be some kind of DLC to get more money from the title

    Yeah I'm as excited about this as I am about Dragon age *sarcasm*

  • Innos007666

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 12:52 am PT

    New Baldur's Gate? hmm ..or this is about that new mmo game linked with NWN? We will see what are they cooking

  • abosh1

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 12:52 am PT

    hehehe cant wait for mass effect.. good on ya Bioware

  • Genchild

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 11:51 pm PT

    Phaselinear needs to do a little research beyond one video... and needs to understand where Bioware comes from... Dragon Age isn't some half assed blowed out clone of a game, it's a reexamination of where they started with those brilliant D&D games from the 90's... Bravo for bringing us more of what you do best... Dragon Age has been a long time coming.

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:55 pm PT

    Man if this is true, Bioware may well shape up to be the next Blizzard with its stable of IPs and development of several games at the same time. I'd be curious what this new IP is since they have already a high fantasy game and a sci-fi game in development, as well as a MMO of course. Very interesting.

  • alexkn64

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:53 pm PT

    WHERE'S MY JADE EMPIRE 2!? YOU PROMISED A JADE EMPIRE SEQUEL, I WANT IT NOW YOU BASTARDS!

  • imastryker

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:26 pm PT

    Kung Fu RPG! a more modern RPG along the lines of Jade Empire, only with full character customization and real kung fu styles like Jeet Kune Do and Wing Chun!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:18 pm PT

    I hope its something good

  • lakomdol

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 7:53 pm PT

    Yeah It has been a long time for BG3 baldurs Gate 3

  • Deckard2323

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 7:16 pm PT

    I don't care what the next game is going to be as long as it's an RPG. Keep 'em coming BioWare!

  • fikkel

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:49 pm PT

    jade empire 2, KOTOR 3, a new IP.. don't care! i'm just so happy that bioware is making another new game! Bioware is going to make me very poor with all their games coming out.

  • Nightrain50

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:49 pm PT

    More rpg's the better, I wish sw:tor mmo didn't exist and this was kotor 3, but any rpg will do.

  • sk45

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:25 pm PT

    AdmiralDanv thanx 4 da correction mate, if there is no kotor 3 then all we can do is hope the mmo will live pu to its kotor heritage

  • AdmiralDan

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:00 pm PT

    Obsidian did KOTOR2, not Bethesda. The IP definitely belongs to Lucas Arts. You can't have Jedi, Sith, and lighstabers running around without Lucas giving the OK (and receiving a cut, as well).

  • shkar

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:00 pm PT

    Go go go Bioware....You are becoming the next CAPCOM in my opinion....or may be you'll surpass them to become the best of all

  • Ranger1086

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:44 pm PT

    Hope they do not get side tracked from Star Wars The Old Republic

  • Timbydude

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:36 pm PT

    Everybody who's asking for KOTOR 3:

    There IS NOT going to be a KOTOR 3!! They've said this multiple times. The Old Republic (the new MMO) is meant to be KOTOR 3...as well as KOTOR 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, according to BioWare. A single-player KOTOR 3 is not coming.

  • WhoaNellie32

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:25 pm PT

    i thought jade empire 2 was in production as well......?

  • sk45

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:24 pm PT

    im a bioware fanboy since i played kotor 1, really hoping kotor 3 will emerge this gen but this new ip will most likely be awsome anyway
    p.s. does bioware even own the kotor ip(i know it comes under star wars) or do locus arts own it cause bethesda(i think) developed kotor2

  • ldonyo

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:19 pm PT

    Sometimes things like that, when included in a resume, are called, "padding". They're included in a resume because there is almost no way to verify them.

  • eplayanime

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:17 pm PT

    Bioware are a bunch of gd sellouts. KOTOR 3 should have been out ages ago. They just want to fight it all the way.

  • Commando015

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:15 pm PT

    @Couly

    Yeah, I do think the people who are EXPECTING KoTOR to come from this are a bit slow in the head, but, the people who WANT a new KoTOR have great reason for it.

  • acemasta21

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 4:15 pm PT

    mass efffect 2 for ps3 please

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