r/masseffect • u/Turbostrider27 • 9h ago

NEWS Bioware is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending

Post image
7.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

•

u/itsjustnormalwater 8h ago

EA holding onto the IP costs them nothing. If they keep the IP, they can license it out or have one of their satellite studios make another Mass Effect later down the road. If they sell the IP, then they miss out on any profit that a future Mass Effect might accrue.

So the "safe" strategy is to just hoard the IP indefinitely.

•

u/OdysseyPrime9789 8h ago

Then it goes into the corporate graveyard and we never hear from it again at that point. Gestures to Command & Conquer.

•

u/SilentPizzle 8h ago

Yep I’d have hope for ME to return if they didn’t destroy one of the best RTS’s of all time for no reason. Clearly EA doesn’t use the same math we use.

•

u/BobR969 2h ago

No C&C means zero money being made by everyone. Another company having the IP means EA isn't making money, but someone else might be. It's obvious which one is more effective for the business. Same way that Hollywood giants would buy up scripts that no one intends to turn into films, just so that someone else doesn't get their hands on them and make money. 

•

u/I_Like_Turtle101 8h ago

also its probably small at this point but they still sell liscence merchandise . wich is basicaly ''free'' money

•

u/Orwell1971 5h ago

selling the IP *is* profit. It depends on the price.

Investors aren't known for their long term patience, anyway.

•

u/DonQuix0te_ 8h ago

Also by holding onto the IP, EA's owners get to be in control.

If EA sold off mass effect to some other devloper, that developer would be free to do whatever they wish with it.

If EA keeps it and licenses it out, the saudis could say "yeah but there can't be any gay in the game!"