In about 14 months, starting now and ending sometime in April of next year, BioWare has confirmed that they are launching a new series. During a phone call with investors, EA CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that the game will be out by the end of the upcoming fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2018.
“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,” Wilson said. “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.”
During the Q&A session of the phone call, Wilson said that the game will be an action-adventure as opposed to an RPG, and that it will probably blend genres. He says that more popular games are beginning to blend their genres. He also says that players should expect the great RPG character development and storyline progressions that BioWare is known for but to experience a greater action and adventure that the top developers are producing for their games.
He also said that it is a brand new IP, which means that it won’t be a continuation of an already existing series.
BioWare’s Aaron Flynn also added to what Wilson said in an official blog post.
“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-plus 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.”