logo80lv
Articlesclick_arrow
Talentsclick_arrow
Events
Workshops
Aboutclick_arrow
profile_login
Log in
0
Save
Copy Link
Share

BioWare Co-Founder Explores Bringing Back Mass Effect & Dragon Age

Trent Oster says he is looking into getting the rights to the studio's IP, and James Ohlen says he is interested in joining him.

BioWare

BioWare's closure sparked a strong reaction in the community, and BioWare co-founder Trent Oster, who left the studio in 2009 and later founded Beamdog, has since said he is looking into bringing back BioWare's IP, including Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

"The #SaveMassEffect movement makes me wonder if there isn't some other way to build game financing that actually supports a better product instead of undermining it. Any thoughts?" he wrote on X/Twitter. The next day, he continued: "The scary component of Mass Effect is the audience is going to want the best of "AAA" development. Rough ballpark (based on contemporaries) is $200M+. That is a big number to commit up front. There has to be a bigger plan in place for the IP to make the math work." Oster also said that he thinks "it can be done well for less than that amount with a disciplined approach and an experienced team."

Oster said his first recruit would be James Ohlen, creative director on Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins, and Neverwinter Nights, and asked whether he would like to team up. Ohlen replied: "Of course! A chance to work on Dragon Age again is a dream of mine."

In conclusion, Oster said: "To me, the best possible outcome would be a BioWare with a directive to make the kind of games we became known for and the community still love," he wrote. He has also stressed that getting the rights to BioWare's IP is key, since "one without the other is just making EA money."

Canadian MP Don Davies shared a series of posts saying BioWare's staff should be given the first opportunity, along with federal support, to buy it and run it themselves. Oster then addressed Davies, saying, "We should have a chat.”

Davies sponsors the petition e-7898 calling on the Canadian government to provide BioWare with the capital needed to secure its independence and intellectual property from Electronic Arts. Last week, the petition gathered the 500 signatures required for it to be presented to Parliament, and it received more than 2,700 signatures over two days. Five days later, it has over 6,600.

Subscribe to our Newsletter, join our 80 Level Talent platform, Discord, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Are you a fan of what we do here at 80 Level? Then make sure to set us as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our content in your feed.

Subscribe to 80 Level Newsletters

Latest news, hand-picked articles, and updates

Built for the Game & Digital Art Industry
Get Our Media Kit

Comments

0

arrow
Type your comment here
Leave Comment
Built for the Game & Digital Art Industry
Get Our Media Kit