Bioware tease new IP; expected by mid-2018

With Mass Effect: Andromeda’s launch soon arriving, Bioware are looking to have a little free-time on their hands – perfect time for a new game, eh? In fact, the studio is looking to soon announce an entirely new IP. Something Bioware haven’t done in eight years since Dragon Age: Origins.

At a conference call, the EA CEO said to expect the title by the end of the next fiscal year – so before March 31, 2018. In a blog post, Bioware head, Arryn Flynn, said the studio “began crafting a new universe full of new characters, stories, and gameplay, in 2012.” If anything, ‘universe’ makes the title sound suitably sci-fi – so not too different from Mass Effect, then?

There does, however, seem to be two large departure’s from Bioware norm. Andrew Wilson states the title “is an action-adventure, not RPG” but promises “the great RPG character development and story progression that Bioware is known for will continue.” A first for Bioware.

The game will also have a large focus on online communities and multiplayer – again, a big change for the studio. Arryn Flynn says, “we’re creating a unique IP that will bring players together in exciting new ways”. Something to compete with Destiny 2, maybe?

For a studio that has been a large part of the public eye for so long, Bioware have made surprisingly few entirely original IP’s. Today, they are known for Mass Effect and Dragon Age, before that; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights and Baldur’s Gate. They also developed a Sonic RPG for the Nintendo DS – let’s just forget about that, right?

All in all, if you argue Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights aren’t Bioware IP’s and instead Dungeons & Dragons, the company have only ever created four IP’s of their own – including the incredibly rare Shattered Steel.

So a new IP from the studio is kind of exciting. We don’t know too much detail on it yet, but EA CEO Andrew Wilson promises more information soon.