RPG创作者哀悼BioWare关停，Warren Spector痛批关闭背后的决策层

Following the extremely sad news of BioWare's closure (mandated by Electronic Arts amid a larger restructuring that removed another 350 employees across the publisher as it began to deal with substantial debt from the $55 billion leveraged buyout), several prominent RPG developers and former studio veterans shared their parting thoughts, ranging from resignation and nostalgia to utter rage.

The latter came from a perhaps unexpected source: Warren Spector. In a LinkedIn post, the recently retired legendary game designer behind various Ultima games, System Shock, Deus Ex, and Epic Mickey, vented his raw frustration at those executives who effectively executed such a historic studio and did so, in all likelihood, without any consequence for themselves:

I try very hard not to curse at any time, but especially in public. Unfortunately for my vocabulary and the delicate sensibilities of some who read this I can’t control myself. Hell, I don’t want to control myself. BioWare is more than just another studio. For decades it’s played a central role in the history of our medium. They, for many years, as effectively as any studio, married art and commerce. Their work changed things.

Now comes the cursing. Cover your eyes if you must. This is such bad news, such a devastating historic event; all I can say is that it’s utter bullshit. Anyone who participated in this travesty should be ashamed. Actually, maybe all of the people who participated — the folks in suits (real or virtual) should lose their damn jobs. I ask them to ponder this: What do you contribute to gaming? What price do you pay for failure? I’d love to see THEM on the unemployment line instead of the people who do real work. Why is it always the do-ers and makers who pay the price? Someone explain that to me!

Swen Vincke, CEO of Divinity and Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian, mused that it's practically unthinkable that the Canadian developer won't be listed anymore among the upcoming RPG lists, while telling those who worked at the studio they can be proud of what they've created over the years.

This is not something I ever expected to see. Larian and BioWare started their trajectories in the games industry at the same time, and BioWare led the way in making RPGs big. It's almost unimaginable that we're now entering an era where the name BioWare won't show up anymore when discussing upcoming RPGs. What a loss for all of us. Thank you for all the games. Thank you for the many hours of gameplay. Thank you for all the stories. You can be damned proud of what you achieved.

Brian Fargo, an RPG legend in his own right with credits ranging from The Bard's Tale series to the first two Fallout games, from Wasteland to the upcoming Clockwork Revolution, recalled that it was his Interplay Productions that gave BioWare their first project, the mech simulation game Shattered Steel (1996):

I remember when BioWare was a small studio that made Shattered Steel for us at Interplay. We saw the promise in what they could do, and they went on to create Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 and become legendary. A sad day indeed. My thoughts are with everyone there today.

Casey Hudson worked on eleven games during his 19-year tenure at BioWare, which also included a brief stint as Studio General Manager. Hudson, who is now working on a spiritual successor to KOTOR (which he directed while at BioWare), wrote in a tweet:

This is sad news on multiple fronts - for those of us who worked there, for our friends and colleagues at BioWare who are impacted, and for fans who were looking forward to the next Mass Effect adventure. I started my career at BioWare and will forever be grateful to the founders, Greg and Ray, for inviting me to join in BioWare's legendary journey. Its legacy will live on through those who were part of it and continue to create games through a passion for unforgettable stories, worlds, and characters.

Last but not least, Mike Gamble, a studio veteran of 17 years who worked on Mass Effect 2, 3, Andromeda, Anthem, Dragon Age: The Veilguard and was leading the now-canceled project, wrote on X:

Your support has meant everything to me over the past 17 years at BioWare. I could probably scroll for hours and continue reading the words of support for the studio, the legacy, and the impact that BioWare has had on you. It means so much to us. There is so much talent on this team of OGs, so if you are aware of any roles, please send them. I will personally vouch for everyone in my crew. As for me: at least I don't have to call in sick when GTA 6 comes out.

As I wrote in the closure news article, hopefully Electronic Arts won't let IPs with amazing potential like Mass Effect and Dragon Age rot. Whether they license them or sell them, they should be kept active by a new studio with a fresh perspective that honors their legacies.

While we wait for a potential revival, vote for your favorite BioWare game in the poll below and explain why in the comments section.

BioWare's Best Game Is...

About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.

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