BioWare has been making games for over 25 years, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. The studio has been responsible for some of the most beloved RPG games of all time and some of the best-known franchises in the gaming industry. The team gained notoriety with the original Baldur's Gate games, and from there, went on to craft further acclaimed games. Several BioWare franchises have been making a comeback in one form or another, but there are some properties whose future seems uncertain. While the developer's major franchises are getting a new lease on life, the future of other IPs seems up in the air.
Earlier in 2021, BioWare canceled its plans for Anthem, meaning that fans will never get to play the re-tooled version of the game. While Anthem wasn't the most well-received of BioWare's games, fans were still disappointed to hear this news. BioWare is instead focusing on returning to some of its major franchises. The team is working on new games in the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, which is certainly great news to some. Other franchises that BioWare previously worked on are also being reinvigorated for a new generation at other studios. It's a great time to be a BioWare fan, though some of the team's past games and properties have an unknown future.
BioWare's Tendency to Move On
While BioWare has worked on some notable franchises like Mass Effect, Baldur's Gate, and Dragon Age, the team has also worked on several one-off games. The team developed Jade Empire and Neverwinter Nights without working on further entries. Except for The Old Republic MMO, BioWare developed the singleplayer Knights of the Old Republic, while the sequel was made by Obsidian Entertainment. BioWare has shown an ability to work on one-off projects before moving on to new games.
A lot of the developer's work continued in one form or another. Neverwinter Nights had a direct sequel made, and eventually, an MMO called Neverwinter was created. The acclaimed Knights of the Old Republic had a sequel developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and BioWare worked on the MMO spin-off, The Old Republic. Some other games weren't so lucky, with Jade Empire having never received a sequel or any kind of follow-up. This trend seems to be continuing in the present day, with several BioWare franchises and games being revitalized where some have a future that's harder to predict.
BioWare Properties With a New Lease on Life
One of the most notable BioWare franchises making a comeback is Mass Effect. Recently, a remastered collection of the original trilogy was released, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. In late 2020, the next original Mass Effect game was formally announced, accompanied by a teaser trailer. BioWare has gone back to one of its most successful franchises in a big way, much to the delight of Mass Effect fans. Mass Effect isn't the only major franchise that the developer is pushing ahead with.
While it was never on hiatus like Mass Effect was, BioWare is making a new Dragon Age game. The game has reportedly had something of a troubled development cycle, though multiplayer and live service elements have now been scrapped, allowing for BioWare to craft a singleplayer RPG experience. Similar to Mass Effect, Dragon Age has been one of the team's most popular franchises and fans are happy that a new game is being made.
Even outside of BioWare, franchises that the team has worked on before are being refreshed for a new generation. One of the biggest examples is Baldur's Gate 3 from Larian Studios. Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in early access and it has proven to be very popular with gamers and Dungeons and Dragons fans alike. While it's unknown how much the new Baldur's Gate title connects with the original titles, it's brought success to the series after 20 years without a new franchise entry.
Nothing has been confirmed, but it has been heavily rumored that Knights of the Old Republic is being remade for some time. Rumors have been circulating for a long time about a remake, and the latest gossip suggests that Aspyr Media is remaking KOTOR. It hasn't been confirmed, but fans have made it clear for some time now that they'd love to see a modern update on the BioWare classic. While these properties are progressing with or without BioWare, some IPs haven't received the same kind of treatment.
BioWare-Developed Titles With an Uncertain Future
Much to the disappointment of some gamers, a sequel to Jade Empire has never been made. Jade Empire 2 was once in active development, but unfortunately, it was canceled over fears of it not being very commercially successful. Members of BioWare have gone on record to say that a new Jade Empire is never off the table, but it's not something that gamers should get their hopes up for. While there is always a chance it could be revived outside of BioWare, it seems as though the interest in bringing Jade Empire back doesn't match fans' hopes.
The most recent BioWare game to be left with an uncertain future is Anthem. While it wasn't particularly well-received by critics, Anthem has a fanbase, and for those gamers it's a shame its reboot project won't see the light of day. It's uncertain whether or not Anthem will ever receive a follow-up of any kind, and it's perhaps too early to tell after its cancellation. Developers working on Anthem have been moved to other projects, including the upcoming Dragon Age 4. Perhaps down the line Anthem could receive a follow-up, but BioWare has made it clear that for the moment, the focus is on Mass Effect and Dragon Age.Â
Knights of the Old Republic and its future is a bit of an edge case. While rumors have been circulating about a remake for some time, nothing has been confirmed about it despite fan desire to see the series return. A KOTOR remake could make a sequel possible, but it's all based on speculation and unverified rumors due to there being no official comment on the series in recent times. The Old Republic MMO continues to be popular, though it doesn't quite scratch the same itch as the singleplayer KOTOR series. Knights of the Old Republic continues to have a fervent fanbase, and it would be surprising if the series isn't continued at some point.
While some fans are happy with BioWare's renewed focus on Mass Effect and Dragon Age, along with the likes of Baldur's Gate being continued at Larian Studios, some are disappointed that other properties remain dormant. Jade Empire may never see a sequel, and it's uncertain if Anthem will ever be revisited. Knights of the Old Republic could be a good choice to reboot or re-establish for the new generation, but there hasn't been any reveals, despite all the rumors. It's great for gamers to see BioWare's work live on and be continued directly and by other studios, but it seems as though some properties might not receive the same appreciation any time soon.