What Could Have Been: BioWare’s ‘Jade Empire’ Sequel
Table of Contents
- 1. What Could Have Been: BioWare’s ‘Jade Empire’ Sequel
- 2. The “Moronic” Advice That Changed everything
- 3. Visual Upgrade Chance Lost
- 4. A Partnership history with Microsoft
- 5. What If? BioWare’s Potential EA Takeover
- 6. Big Companies and Creative Freedom
- 7. The Road Not Taken
- 8. What would have changed for Jade Empire if it had been released on the Xbox 360?
- 9. Jade Empire: A Conversation with BioWare Co-Founder Greg Zeschuk on the Lost Franchise
- 10. Q: Greg, thanks for joining us today. Let’s dive right into Jade Empire. Given its critical acclaim, do you think it could have become a franchise akin to Mass Effect or Dragon Age?
- 11. Q: Speaking of microsoft, their advice to release Jade Empire at the end of the Xbox cycle was quite… unorthodox.
- 12. Q: How do you think the game would have benefited from a release on the Xbox 360?
- 13. Q: The partnership between BioWare and Microsoft spans many titles. What’s your take on the collaboration process?
- 14. Q: After Star Wars: The Old Republic, you mentioned a potential takeover of EA. What drove that idea?
- 15. Q: Switching gears, what did working within a large corporation like EA teach you about game development?
- 16. Q: Lastly, Greg, could you give us one piece of advice for aspiring game developers looking to make a lasting impact?
BioWare’s classic RPG, Jade Empire, released in April 2005, might have blossomed into a full-fledged franchise alongside Mass Effect and Dragon Age. According to BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk, advice from Microsoft derailed those plans. The game launched on the original Xbox just months before the Xbox 360 arrived in November 2005.
The “Moronic” Advice That Changed everything
Zeschuk recalls Microsoft urging BioWare to release Jade Empire at the end of the xbox cycle. “And Microsoft’s like, ‘no no, you should release it now, right at the end of the cycle, as its a great time,'” Zeschuk stated. “It was like, the worst advice. Like, absolute moronic advice from them. It was the stupidest thing ever.” This decision effectively stranded the game on aging hardware when new consoles were on the horizon.
Visual Upgrade Chance Lost
Releasing later, as an Xbox 360 launch title, would have possibly allowed BioWare to enhance the game’s graphics and overall polish. “Give us six months, give us the chance to make it a launch title for the 360 and we’d have another franchise,” Zeschuk lamented. He believed the game would have enjoyed greater success at the beginning of a console generation.
A Partnership history with Microsoft
Prior to Jade Empire, BioWare and Microsoft collaborated on titles such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Later, Mass Effect debuted on the Xbox 360, solidifying the partnership between the two companies.
What If? BioWare’s Potential EA Takeover
Zeschuk also discussed the possibility of him and co-founder Ray Muzyka potentially taking over EA if Star Wars: The Old Republic, bioware’s MMORPG, had achieved exceptional financial success. He revealed, “I lived in Austin for two-and-a-half years making Star Wars the Old Republic [and] I knew that was kind of a one-way trip.”
He elaborated, “If it was super successful, super duper successful, Ray and I would have probably launched a bid to try and take over EA from the inside, being the corporate pirates that we are. But it needed to be like $2 billion a year successful. But it didn’t work out so I was like, ‘Ah, I’m fine.'” The MMORPG’s performance ultimately fell short of that lofty goal.
Big Companies and Creative Freedom
Working within EA revealed to Zeschuk the limitations of large corporations, stating, “Big companies exist to exploit properties. They exist to exploit games. Most of the big North American guys, they’re just good at ‘Hey, let’s just squeeze the most money out of this franchise.’ They don’t kind of create a lot of them, and I kind of realized early on that I like making games. I don’t like just operating.” This perspective ultimately influenced his decision to leave BioWare.
The Road Not Taken
The story of Jade Empire serves as a cautionary tale in the gaming industry. Timing, platform choice, and corporate guidance can significantly impact a game’s potential. While jade Empire remains a beloved title, its journey underscores the complex decisions behind game advancement and franchise building.
Do you think Jade Empire could have been as big as Mass Effect or Dragon Age? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What would have changed for Jade Empire if it had been released on the Xbox 360?
Jade Empire: A Conversation with BioWare Co-Founder Greg Zeschuk on the Lost Franchise
Q: Greg, thanks for joining us today. Let’s dive right into Jade Empire. Given its critical acclaim, do you think it could have become a franchise akin to Mass Effect or Dragon Age?
Zeschuk: “Absolutely, it had the potential. The game’s unique setting and combat system set it apart from our other titles. But alas, poor timing and some, shall we say, interesting advice from Microsoft led us down a different path.”
Q: Speaking of microsoft, their advice to release Jade Empire at the end of the Xbox cycle was quite… unorthodox.
Zeschuk: “Unorthodox is one way to put it. It was literally the worst advice we could have received. We were ready to make the leap to the Xbox 360, but thay pushed us to stay with the aging hardware. It was frustrating, to say the least.”
Q: How do you think the game would have benefited from a release on the Xbox 360?
Zeschuk: “A release on the Xbox 360 would have given us the chance to enhance the game’s graphics, polish the experience, and truly let it shine.starting a new generation with a high-quality, innovative RPG could have solidified Jade Empire as a franchise.”
Q: The partnership between BioWare and Microsoft spans many titles. What’s your take on the collaboration process?
Zeschuk: “Its been a mixed bag. they’ve backed some of our most enterprising projects,but sometimes,like in the case of Jade Empire,their advice missed the mark. They mean well, but it’s not always a smooth process.”
Q: After Star Wars: The Old Republic, you mentioned a potential takeover of EA. What drove that idea?
Zeschuk: “Ray and I always had a vision for BioWare beyond just making games. We saw an possibility to push the boundaries of storytelling and creativity within a major publisher. But unfortunately,the game’s success didn’t quite reach the heights we needed to make that a reality.”
Q: Switching gears, what did working within a large corporation like EA teach you about game development?
Zeschuk: “It taught me that big companies prioritize exploitation over innovation.They’re good at squeezing money out of franchises, but less so at creating new ones. After a while, it became clear to me that I preferred making games that inspire and innovate.”
Q: Lastly, Greg, could you give us one piece of advice for aspiring game developers looking to make a lasting impact?
Zeschuk: “Never be afraid to take risks and push boundaries. The gaming landscape is always changing, and the only way to stand out is by doing somthing truly unique. And hey, if Microsoft ever offers you advice, take it with a grain of salt.”
