Electronic Arts held a conference call today to report its Q3 2017 fiscal results, but among the dry numbers and projections was the mention of a currently unannounced BioWare project that the company is very high on. The game is reportedly an Action game that will "disrupt" the genre according to EA CEO Andrew Wilson.
He said:
"At the end of the fiscal year, our BioWare studio will be delivering an all-new IP, a clean-sheet design with new concepts, new gameplay mechanics, and new stories set in a unique new universe.This game has the potential to fundamentally disrupt the way people think about an action title, bringing friends together to play in an exhilarating new way. We're very excited about the future of this new franchise and its ability to attract a large, global audience."
By Wilson's account, it sounds like BioWare is focusing on multiplayer as a core element of the game, but it will supposedly still have a lot of the same character and narrative emphasis that the company is known for. Wilson continued.
"What we're seeing more and more is genre-melding, which is great components of a number of different genres really kind of coming together into single games.And so when you think about this game, you should be thinking about the great RPG character development and storyline progression that BioWare is known for, but in a world of greater action and greater adventure, which is growing to be one of the larger categories in games."
No details have been revealed in terms of theme or platforms, though if history is any indication, Xbox One, PS4, and PC are pretty safe bets. What's also (likely) a safe bet is that EA will have some sort of media blowout on the game at or around E3 2017 during their EA Play presentation, so stay tuned for more details.
BioWare also commented on the upcoming IP on their official blog, noting that the game has been in the making since 2012 while echoing Andrew Wilson's sentiments. They mention that the game will "bring players together in exciting new ways" and that it is built upon "20+ years of development knowledge and lessons."
So what do you think it is? EA's take on Destiny? Something we've legitimately never seen before? Either way, it sounds like the beginning of a new franchise post-Mass Effect.
Sources: [Gamespot, BioWare Blog]
