Sources close to EA and Bioware have revealed that, in an internal meeting held this morning, it was announced that Bioware cofounders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka are leaving the company.
It is unclear at this time why Zeschuk and Muzyka are leaving, and whether the pair are moving on to a new company or retiring from video games altogether.
It’s been hard times for Bioware lately. The veteran RPG developer has taken hit after hit to their reputation ever since Dragon Age 2 dropped to widespread disappointment from many. This was followed shortly after by SWTOR falling far short of expectations and community backlash over the ending of Mass Effect 3. News of Zeschuk and Muzyka’s departure comes the very day after confirmation that Dragon Age 3 is in development.
This is a developing story. We will provide further information as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Both Greg and Ray have confirmed that they are retiring from BioWare, and have offered some farewell thoughts in blog posts on the official Bioware site. It seems unlikely that either of them will return to working in the games industry anytime soon.
“After nearly twenty years working at BioWare I’ve decided it’s time to move on and pursue something new,” said Zeschuk. “This decision isn’t without significant pain and regret, but it’s also something I know I need to do, for myself and my family. I’ve reached an unexpected point in my life where I no longer have the passion that I once did for the company, for the games, and for the challenge of creation.”
“After nearly two decades in video games, I’ve decided to move on to pursue an entirely different set of challenges,” said Muzyka. “This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make; after thinking about it for many months, I made the decision to retire from video games back in early April 2012 – at that time I provided six months’ notice to EA, to help enable a solid transition for my teams at BioWare.”
General Manager of BioWare Edmonton & Montreal Aaryn Flynn also has some words to offer regarding the duo’s departure and Bioware’s future:
“Ray and Greg built BioWare to last. They’ve always known their retirement would come one day, so they developed a team of people who would ensure their standards and culture would endure. We’ll humbly carry that torch and continue learning in the process.”
“To the Doctors: I wish you the very best, and we will always honor your legacy. The games we develop will always share your unique creativity and steadfast integrity.”
You might know Aaryn Flynn as the guy who does this:
They know. They fucking know.
“I’ve reached an unexpected point in my life where I no longer have the passion that I once did for the company, for the games, and for the challenge of creation.”
Not that it shows or anything…
“You might know Aaryn Flynn as the guy who does this:”
There is no way for them to become worse or not closed, so who cares?
I thought the captains go down with the ship?
But they are the rats…
lol wut
End of the rine, more likely
End of the line, folks.
Let us not forget that Sonic RPG that was on the DS.
Whoa! Didn’t see this coming. And by “didn’t see this coming”, I mean that I totally saw this coming.
Add insomniac to the list now, too. R.I.P. in peace.
Origin
Bullfrog
Westwood
Maxis
Popcap
Bioware
The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Game studios rise, evolve, advance, then at the apex of their glory, they are extinguished.
Don’t forget Crytek and Pandemic.
IT’S OVER BIOWARE IS FINISHED
This is actually terrible news. Now EA will have to move onto a new, decent dev team and suck the life out of them next (If they can afford any).
this could of been avoided
you should of stayed with microsoft
ok there pretty shitty too but at-least this wouldn’t happen