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BioWare Edmonton

Moby ID: 885

AKA +
  • BioWare Corporation (from 1995-02 to 2008)

Overview edit · view history

BioWare Corp. is a game development studio founded by medical doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk in February 1995. It is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. BioWare specializes in RPGs (role-playing games) and only released two products in other genres so far, their first game Shattered Steel (1996) and MDK 2 (2000).

Among their most important franchises are Baldur's Gate, Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. They also created Neverwinter Nights (2002), the Star Wars-inspired RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) and Jade Empire (2005).

The company often has been working together with Black Isle Studios for Baldur's Gate games. Obsidian Entertainment, where most of the former Black Isle employees move on to, also created the sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Their in-house developed engines (Infinity, Aurora, Odyssey) have often been used for third party games.

On 3 November 2005, the company formed an alliance with Pandemic Studios, backed financially by Elevation Partners. Through the operation, a holding company called BioWare/Pandemic Studios was created. BioWare's two co-founders and Pandemic's two co-founders, Andrew Goldman and Josh Resnick become shareholders and senior executives. John Riccitiello from Elevation became the company's CEO. On 11 October 2007, this partnership was bought by Electronic Arts.

On 19 September 2006, BioWare announced the formation of a handheld development group, led by project director Dan Tudge. Earlier, on 13 March 2006, they opened an additional studio in Austin, Texas (BioWare Austin), headed by Gordon Walton and Richard Vogel.

On 2 March 2009, an additional studio was opened, BioWare Montréal. After assisting with the Mass Effect series, it was merged with Motive Studios in August 2017.

In August 2011, EA2D joined BioWare as BioWare San Francisco until its closure around March 2013. From December 2011 to November 2012, Victory Games operated as BioWare Victory.

On 18 September 2012, it was confirmed both founders left the company. Ray Muzyka said to retire from the games industry entirely, stating "I've largely personally achieved what I wanted in videogames". Greg Zeschuk shared a similar sentiment, but said he would not work on games for a while and added: "[...] there’s a strong possibility that I won't be back".

Credited on 40 Games from 1996 to 2021

Displaying most recent · View all

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (2021 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)
Star Wars: Squadrons (2020 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition + Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Anthem (2019 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition (2018 on Linux, Windows, Macintosh...)
Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)
Mass Effect: Andromeda - Apex HQ (2017 on Android, iPhone, iPad)
Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3...)
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (2013 on Windows, Linux, iPhone...)
Battlefield 4 (2013 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3...)
Mass Effect (2012 on PlayStation 3)
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (2012 on Linux, Windows, Macintosh...)
Mass Effect 3: Special Edition (2012 on Wii U)
MDK 2 HD (2012 on Windows)
Mass Effect 3 (2012 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3...)
Dragon Age II (2011 on Windows, Xbox 360, Macintosh...)
Mass Effect 2 (2011 on PlayStation 3)
Icewind Dale II: Complete (2010 on Windows, Macintosh)
Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition (2010 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Mass Effect 2 (2010 on Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

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History +

June 24, 2009

Electronic Arts announces that BioWare is restructured into a new group together with Mythic Entertainment.

January 7, 2008

The company officially becomes a part of Electronic Arts, Inc. and its EA Games label.

October 11, 2007

It is announced VG Holding Corp, including both BioWare and Pandemic, would be acquired by Electronic Arts, effective January 2008.

September 19, 2006

The company announces the formation of a new handheld game development group, led by project director Dan Tudge, the former founder and president of Exile Interactive Inc.

March 13, 2006

The company opens a new studio in Austin, Texas, headed by Gordon Walton and Richard Vogel.

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Trivia +

Company location and contact information (2008):

Bioware

200, 4445 Calgary Trail

Edmonton, Alberta T6H5R7 Canada

Company phone: 7804300164

Company Fax: 7804098276

2002 - The 2nd Fastest Growing Company in Alberta - Alberta Venture Magazine and Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants/Management Consultants - 41st Place, Canada's Fastest Growing Companies - Profit 100 - 346th Place, Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 - 29th Place, Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best PC Game: Neverwinter Nights - Top 40 Under 40 - R.O.B Magazine - Canada's Top Exporter; Prairie Provinces - Profit 100

2001

  • Alberta Business Awards of Distinction - Employer of Youth Award of Distinction
  • The Fastest Growing Company in Alberta - Alberta Venture Magazine and Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants/Management Consultants
  • Finalists in the E Awards for Alberta’s most enterprising employees in the category of Customer Service (External).
  • 287th Place, Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 (with a 1,923 Percent Revenue Growth over 5 years)
  • Finalist, 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada
  • ASTech Award – Category of Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology (gross sales less than $25 mill. Per annum)
  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Software/IT(Prairies)
  • 27th Place, Deloitte & Touche Fast 50
  • 11th Place, Fastest Growing Companies – Profit 100 Magazine

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