The story of EA and BioWare’s beleaguered action RPG National anthem apparently ended. According to an official BioWare blog post, the ambitious jetpack fighting game’s “overhaul” project is dead. The staff assigned to rebuild the game in a better way were again assigned to work on other BioWare projects, especially Dragon Age 4 and the following Mass effect games.
From what we saw in the March 2019 launch version, EA and BioWare clearly intended that the game would receive regularly updated content, but negative reviews (including my own) made it clear that BioWare should return to the drawing board. Despite some great ideas and fun flight controls, National anthem‘s basic core was seriously touched before we return to the game.
No more singing from the National anthem
The then general manager, Casey Hudson, made a statement in February 2020 acknowledging the criticism. After listing aspects of the game that needed work, he made a promise to fans: that BioWare would complete ‘fundamental work … to bring out the full potential of the experience … specifically to rediscovering the core goal with clear goals, motivating challenges and progress with meaningful rewards – while preserving the pleasure of flying and fighting in a vast science-fantasy environment. ‘
Ten months later, however, Hudson left just like BioWare Dragon Age 4 executive producer Mark Darrah. BioWare announced this news with the assurance that projects such as Dragon Age 4 will continue, but none of the blog posts of that day, including one written by Hudson, contain any formal assurance that ‘National anthem Next “was in a similarly good condition.
Two weeks ago, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported this National anthemThe development of ‘rediscovery’ was seriously scrutinized by EA executives who would decide whether the project would continue or die. According to Schreier, BioWare’s award to EA would be to expand its 30 staff members to a number closer to 90 to meet the workload. From the audio of the BioWare announcement Wednesday, the report did not go well National anthem.
The new team will definitely have their hands full with other projects, especially the previously announced sequels Dragon Age and Mass effect. With the pressure of time, EA has announced only one launch date for an upcoming BioWare game: the remastered Mass Effect Legendary Edition, will be launched on May 14 on computers and consoles.