EA prioritizes Star Wars Battlefront 3
Electronic Arts (EA) has reportedly shifted its focus from developing Mass Effect 5 and closing BioWare to creating Star Wars Battlefront 3, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. This decision comes amid financial challenges for EA, which recently underwent a $55 billion leveraged buyout by a Saudi Arabian investment fund, leaving the company with $18 billion in debt.Financial strain drives project choices
Facing significant debt, EA leadership had to make tough decisions between two major science fiction projects: the next Mass Effect installment and a Star Wars Battlefront 3 project in partnership with Lucasfilm. The company chose Star Wars Battlefront 3, which is seen as a safer and more predictable investment compared to the riskier Mass Effect franchise.BioWare’s past projects influence decision
The choice was also influenced by past issues with BioWare’s projects. The 2017 release of Mass Effect: Andromeda was widely criticized, and the 2019 live service Anthem was described as a “disaster.” Additionally, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, intended to revive the company’s reputation, failed to meet its sales targets by 50 percent, further contributing to the decision to shift focus.Concerns over microtransactions resurface
The development of Star Wars Battlefront 3 has raised concerns about the potential inclusion of microtransactions, similar to the issues faced by Star Wars Battlefront II in 2017, which was criticized for its controversial loot box system. A petition to save the Mass Effect franchise has already gathered nearly 300,000 signatures.
