BioWare reveals two new role-playing games

BioWare has announced that it is working on two new role-playing games--one for Xbox and one for the PC--that are set in original worlds. The studio has signed a first-party publishing agreement with Microsoft to publish the Xbox game, and the PC game hasn't yet been presented to any publisher. These will be BioWare's first games based on original properties. The studio, based in Edmonton, Canada, built its reputation on games based on the Dungeons & Dragons license and is also finishing up Knights of the Old Republic, a Star Wars role-playing game that LucasArts is set to publish for the PC and Xbox.

"The partnership with Microsoft Game Studios is a perfect fit," said Dr. Ray Muzyka, joint CEO of BioWare. "They clearly share BioWare's vision and commitment to quality. To [have them] publishing BioWare's first intellectual property--an all-new, epic Xbox role-playing game--is a great opportunity for us. Of course, we also intend to continue our existing publisher relationships developing selected licenses

"Our PC developers are already hard at work on our other new 'secret' PC role-playing game," said Dr. Greg Zeschuk, joint CEO of BioWare. "Creating our own universe is a great opportunity for us to deliver a game that is uniquely BioWare, and we look forward to creating an immersive BioWare RPG experience in the tradition of games like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights."

BioWare has not announced the names or release schedules of the new games. We'll have more details as they become available.