BioWare's new IP delayed, is social and online-based

Electronic Arts has delayed BioWare's massive new IP as far as 2019, and confirms that the game will be online-based with a new kind of social interactive component--corroborating our original predictions.

BioWare's core Edmonton studio has been developing a fresh new IP for the last five years, aiming to make the new IP a "clean sheet design with new concepts, new gameplay mechanics, and new stories set in a unique universe." EA has dropped key information on the new IP so far, saying that the game is action-based but also has genre-melding to combine RPG elements and deep story-driven characters, but with greater action and greater adventure than we're used to. Now EA confirms that the game will have live services, which indicates it'll be a strong online-based game like Destiny.

Sadly, EA has delayed the game into its FY19, which extends from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

"Looking forward, we will continue our aggressive pace of innovation through experiences that capitalize on our technology, network and creativity. We are very pleased with the progress of our new action IP from BioWare - the design is stunning, gameplay mechanics are excellent, and the action will be exhilarating," EA said in its Fiscal Year 2017 earnings call.

"This game is built around a live service, and through our creative process we have decided to add more to the disruptive new social designs for our players. To accommodate that, we are moving the launch date for this project into FY19."

Read Also: Why I'm worried about BioWare's new IP

This new IP will be wholly-owned by EA, and represents a massive new push into an online-based social realm. In fact, BioWare's Austin branch, who maintains Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG, is helping the studio get the online components in tip-top shape.

We predict that BioWare's new IP will be EA's unique answer to Destiny in many key ways.

Thanks to the delay, we may not see EA reveal BioWare's new IP at its EA Play event in June.

Check below for more information on BioWare's new IP:

via GIPHY

"We're trying to build a fictional world that feels real and is alive and is constantly changing."

EA CFO Blake Jorgensen goes on to heavily hint the IP will have strong online-based multiplayer elements, not unlike an MMO:

"This game has the potential to fundamentally disrupt the way people think about an action title, bringing friends together to play in exciting new ways. We're very excited about the future of this new franchise and its ability to attract a larger global audience."

When asked if the new IP would be an RPG, EA CEO Andrew Wilson answered with the following:

"About the new BioWare IP...I think you mentioned it was action/adventure in the description. Is that an RPG game and should we assume that from BioWare's history? And is that a wholly-owned IP or is that a royalty-bearing IP?"

"It's action-adventure, not RPG. So what we're starting to see more and more in games is kind of genre-melding, which is great components of a number of different genres really coming together in a single game.

"So when you're thinking 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 the largest categories of games.

It will be a wholly-owned IP and we're very excited about it and we'll share more in the year to come."

BioWare's Aaryn Flynn talks about the new IP:

Hi everyone,

As we're working hard to finish Mass Effect: Andromeda, I wanted to take a minute to talk about our new IP. As our CEO Andrew Wilson mentioned, we're creating a unique IP that will bring players together in exciting new ways.

There's much more to say in the coming months, but for now, I wanted to offer this additional background.

In 2012, we began crafting a new universe full of new characters, stories, and gameplay. Our ambition is simple: Draw upon 20+ years of development knowledge and lessons to create something fun and new for you to enjoy with your friends.

There's nothing quite as exciting as building a new IP from scratch, and it will be even more thrilling for us to share more with you in the future.

Thanks,

Aaryn