Anticipating the future of role-playing games after BioWare's phase, these are the developer studios I foresee taking the lead in the upcoming decade.
In the ever-evolving world of role-playing games (RPGs), the legacy of BioWare remains a significant influence. While speculation surrounds the future of BioWare's RPG offerings, other studios are stepping up to fill the void with exciting new projects.
Recent releases from BioWare, such as Andromeda, Anthem, and Veilguard, have sparked discussions about Electronic Arts' trust in the studio to continue producing RPGs. However, other developers are proving that the genre is far from stagnant.
One such studio is Obsidian Entertainment, currently working on The Outer Worlds 2. Their ability to affirm the importance of storytelling in their RPGs is demonstrated by the career progression of game director Carrie Patel, who recently left Obsidian after over a decade.
Another studio making waves is Larian Studios, whose recent backlist includes Divinity: Original Sin and D:OS2, both excellent games. Larian is currently working on two unannounced projects, focusing on developing their own intellectual properties, potentially including Divinity: Original Sin 3. Their upcoming projects will not be Baldur's Gate 4 but will involve developing their own IPs.
Larian's triumph with Baldur's Gate 3 earned it the title of PC Gamer's 2023 Game of the Year and the number one spot in the Top 100 PC games. The Steam description for their latest project, Graft, mentions forming fragile alliances and building deeper relationships, similar to BioWare's RPGs. Graft is set on a space station and involves scavenging body parts from fallen characters.
Spiders' Greedfall series is BioWare-style, but the first was middling, and the second is still in early access. Meanwhile, Harebrained, formerly known as Harebrained Schemes, is working on an isometric body-horror RPG called Graft.
Tactical Adventures' Solasta had praise for its combat but criticised its amateurish storytelling, so BioWare-like expectations for Solasta 2 are not high.
Warhorse Studios' RPGs are also considered different from BioWare's. CD Projekt Red is not being hailed as BioWare's successor due to differences in RPG styles compared to BioWare.
Owlcat Games is working on The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a cinematic sci-fi RPG set in the popular political space opera book series and TV adaptation of The Expanse. The characters in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn have their own scars and loyalties, with relationships that can flourish or deteriorate based on player choices. The game features third-person sci-fi shooter action and may draw Mass Effect comparisons.
InXile's upcoming Clockwork Revolution is expected to play more like Dishonored than BioWare's RPGs.
As the RPG landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that while BioWare's peak era may be debated among fans, its influence remains strong. The future of the genre is bright, with a host of exciting new projects on the horizon.
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