BioWare Archives

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

These 7 games need a remaster, and they need it now

Fallout: New Vegas, released in 2010 by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks, is a unique RPG praised for its player agency, writing, and world-building, making it a candidate for a remaster to fix technical bugs and improve visuals. Dragon Age: Origins, released in 2009 by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, is regarded as the best in its series, but a remaster seems unlikely due to a lack of familiar staff. Black & White, a 2001 game by Lionhead Studios and published by Electronic Arts, is not available on major platforms, and a remaster could enhance its AI and gameplay. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, released in 2004 by Troika Games and published by Activision, is a classic RPG with bugs and unfinished elements that could benefit from a remaster to fix glitches and restore content. No One Lives Forever, a 2000 game by Monolith Productions and published by Fox Interactive, is unavailable due to rights disputes, but a remaster could modernize its visuals and controls. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, released in 2004 by Obsidian Entertainment and published by LucasArts, is an unfinished narrative that could be improved with a remaster to restore missing content. Freedom Force, a 2002 game by Irrational Games and published by Electronic Arts, could benefit from a remaster to improve compatibility and support user-generated content.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Former BioWare lead writer says the best level in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines gave him ‘ammunition’ to argue that story can be just as engaging as combat

David Gaider, former lead writer at BioWare, expressed concerns about the overuse of "trashmob fights" in gaming, advocating for a balance between combat and narrative. He was influenced by the combat-free level in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which emphasized tension through storytelling rather than action. Gaider argued against the necessity of frequent combat encounters, believing that narrative depth and political intrigue could engage players just as effectively. Despite his vision for a combat-free masquerade ball in Dragon Age: Inquisition, the design team opted to include combat, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing player engagement with narrative flow. Gaider emphasized that storytelling can keep players interested without relying solely on fighting.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

‘They’re very determined, suddenly, to see your game fail’: Former Dragon Age writer calls out ‘anti-fans’ who bet on games failing before launch

Former BioWare writer David Gaider discussed the concept of "anti-fans," referring to players and content creators who focus on negative aspects of games, leading to campaigns of negativity before a game's release. This behavior is observed in a vocal minority that critiques upcoming titles, such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Assassin's Creed Shadows. The influence of these "anti-fans" extends beyond individual games, affecting the industry, as seen with the genre shift of Marathon and criticisms directed at Bungie. Gaider notes that this group seems to take pleasure in the potential financial failure of projects, which he describes as mean-spirited.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

GTA 6’s preposterously-gorgeous second trailer has me thinking ‘no-one does it like Rockstar’ isn’t just a compliment, but an omen

The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been released, showcasing impressive graphics and attention to detail. The game is set for release in 2026 and is expected to be one of the most successful video games in history. Rockstar Games is in a strong position, with GTA Online generating significant revenue, allowing for a lengthy development period. Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including layoffs and the struggles of several studios, major projects like GTA 6 and others from prominent developers are underway. The development of Red Dead Redemption 2 faced issues related to crunch periods, but Rockstar has committed to improving working conditions.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

Larian boss Swen Vincke says the studio is ‘deep in the trenches’ on its ‘crazy-ambitious’ follow up to Baldur’s Gate 3, hopes to show it off no later than 2030 because ‘my wife will divorce me if it takes longer’

Larian Studios' founder and CEO, Swen Vincke, discussed the studio's future plans and development process in a conversation with GameSpot. After eight years with Baldur's Gate 3, Larian is preparing to release Patch Eight, which will introduce new features before transitioning support to the modding community. While Larian will continue to provide bug fixes and compatibility support, Vincke hinted at potential surprises in the future. He compared Larian's development approach to that of Obsidian Entertainment, aiming for a disciplined project scope and a steady release of quality games without compromising team well-being. Vincke expressed hope that in five years, Larian will have successfully established a rhythm for producing innovative RPGs simultaneously. He also mentioned the playful speculation of sequels to titles like "Divinity: Original Sin 3," with a tentative timeline around 2030.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I miss old PopCap like you miss old BioWare

From 2000 to 2010, PopCap Games dominated the casual gaming market, influencing the design of many subsequent mobile games. The studio's notable titles included Peggle Extreme, featured in Valve's The Orange Box, and Gyromancer, a collaboration with Square Enix. PopCap's games often drew inspiration from earlier concepts, such as Zuma from Puzz Loop and Bejeweled from the Russian game Shariki. After being acquired by Electronic Arts, PopCap shifted towards mobile and free-to-play models, leading to the decline of its original PC titles. Despite this change, the spirit of PopCap's creativity persists in the indie gaming scene, with games like Donut County and Peglin reflecting its innovative approach. Bookworm Adventures remains accessible through the Internet Archive, contributing to PopCap's lasting legacy.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

BioWare vet Gaider says there was friction between Dragon Age and Mass Effect teams

David Gaider, former lead writer at BioWare, discussed the internal dynamics between the Dragon Age and Mass Effect teams, noting they operated almost as separate entities with distinct cultures and did not get along. This tension became apparent during the development of Anthem, which aimed to combine talents from both franchises. Despite attempts to ease the friction through staff rotations, these efforts were ineffective. Gaider experienced resistance when joining the Anthem team and faced criticism for contributions perceived as "too Dragon Age." The initial vision for Anthem was a hard sci-fi setting, but he was instructed to shift it to a science fantasy tone without clear communication to the team. Anthem launched in 2019 and was discontinued in 2021.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

The Best PC Games to Play Right Now (Spring 2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features advanced GPUs enabling ray tracing and AI-enhanced upscaling, with tools like Unreal Engine 5 facilitating diverse game development. Platforms such as Steam and Epic Games Store host tens of thousands of titles, with over 13,000 new games launched on Steam in 2024. Notable games include Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, Cyberpunk 2077, Valorant, Overwatch 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Warframe, and Apex Legends. Key trends include cross-platform compatibility, free-to-play models, and game subscription services. Optimal gaming setups typically require a mid-range processor, a GTX 1070 or better graphics card, and at least 16GB of RAM. Popular multiplayer games include Valorant and Apex Legends, while highly rated titles include Baldur’s Gate 3, Elden Ring, and Disco Elysium. Classics worth playing today include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Portal 2.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a PC Game Pass store listing

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is now available on the Xbox app for PC Game Pass users, with a game trial accessible through EA Play. The console version does not show a Game Pass tag, while a "PC Game Pass" version is listed. There is speculation that the PC listing may have been published prematurely. The game recently joined PS Plus Extra and is expected to be available on Game Pass Ultimate through EA Play, though this process can take over a year. The game has received a perfect score of 10 and is considered one of the best video games ever made, offering nearly sixty hours of gameplay with impactful choices that shape the narrative.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

BioWare makes a return to Dragon Age: The Veilguard with a surprise PC update, months after layoffs and a seemingly final patch

BioWare has released a new weapon pack for the PC version of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which is currently available at a 50% discount on Steam for £25. The weapon pack can only be claimed by players who own the game or purchase it before April 8. There has been no announcement regarding the availability of this content for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users. The game had previously fallen short of sales expectations by 50%, leading to layoffs at BioWare and a shift in focus to Mass Effect 5. Additionally, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is being offered for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers.