Like Saturn devouring his many sons, EA has finally got around to chomping on Visceral Games. Mainly known for the Dead Space franchise, which, as is par for the course, had a great start, a faltering but worth it middle, and a horrific, forced co-op microtransaction laden ending.
Mass Effect & Dragon Age ring the same bell in their inevitable decline, with Mass Effect: Andromeda being a swan song shitstorm, the result of even letting a studio attempt a fourth game under the impossible to impress publishing eye of EA. Pretty sure Bioware are just gritting their teeth after their original I.P (what a concept, huh?) was put on-ice by upper management.
The issue at hand with all of this is that these studios are genuinely talented and have produced quality games in their infancy.
Hell, DICE are now being propped up by perhaps the most name-brand geek franchise known to man after they have officially run out of ideas with Battlefield (cops and robbers, really?)
The issue at hand with all of this is that these studios are genuinely talented and have produced quality games in their infancy. Mercenaries. Theme Park World. The Godfather, Skate, SimCity, Command and Conquer. I really could go on, but I won’t because it hurts.
Visceral were meant to be making an Amy Hennig-penned single player Star Wars. Han Solo’s Uncharted. Of course, that possible masterpiece is too much of a beautiful idea to conceive so that’s being mutated into a service based game like the ever popular Overwatch or Destiny, with multiplayer and loot boxes and hell, maybe some voice taunts and skins to collect. Because who needs meaningful characterization and storytelling when you can gamble real cash after your RRP purchase for a recolour?!
Of course, that possible masterpiece is too much of a beautiful idea to conceive so that’s being mutated into a service based game
Honestly, all you need to do is look at the Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes turnover/daily usage stats and you’ll get the message here. Support Single-player games. Don’t fall for the loot box trap.