Ein kleines Status-Update zu Mass Effect 5 und Dragon Age 4

Die Fans des kanadischen Spieleentwicklungsunternehmens BioWare warten derzeit gespannt auf neue Informationen zu den beiden Spielen Mass Effect 5 und Dragon Age 4. Beide Titel befinden sich derzeit in unterschiedlichen Phasen der Entwicklung und es gibt immer mal wieder Gerüchte und angebliche Leaks zu den geplanten Veröffentlichungen. Auch wenn es an offiziell bestätigten Informationen mangelt, so haben die Entwickler gestern Abend aber dennoch ein kleines Status-Update zu den Spielen veröffentlicht.

In der Entwicklung von Spielen gibt es mehrere Phasen. Das Ganze beginnt mit der Konzept-Phase, die auf dem Sammeln von Ideen und dem Erstellen der Grundlagen basiert. In dieser Zeit müssen die Entwickler sowohl die technischen Aspekte als auch das allgemeine Konzept des Spiels festlegen. Das Team von Dragon Age 4 konnte diese Phase im vergangenen Jahr hinter sich bringen und eine umfangreiche Blaupause zu dem Spiel auf die Beine stellen.

Laut den Entwicklern befindet sich Dragon Age 4 jetzt mitten in der darauffolgenden Produktionsphase. In dieser Zeit muss das Team die vorher aufgestellten Ideen nehmen und sie in ein funktionierendes Spiel verwandeln. Die Entwickler arbeiten also aktuell daran, umwerfende Umgebungen zu erschaffen, tiefe Charaktere zu schreiben, das Gameplay zu gestalten, die Geschichte zu verfassen und Cinematics zusammenzuschneiden. Wenn diese Vorgänge irgendwann abgeschlossen sind, gibt es Alphas und Betas für den notwendigen Feinschliff. Das Team hat diese Phase zwar noch nicht erreicht, aber derzeit scheint die Entwicklung des Spiels wirklich hervorragend und ohne Probleme zu laufen. Genauere Details zu Dragon Age 4 soll es später im Jahr 2022 geben.

Was die Arbeit an Mass Effect 5 betrifft, so befindet sich die Entwicklung dieses Titels noch früh in der Konzept-Phase. Das Team rund um Mike Gamble sammelt aktuell möglichst viele Ideen für das Spiel und es erstellt erste Prototypen für potenzielle Inhalte dieses Titels. Die Entwicklung solch eines großen AAA-Spiels dauert leider seine Zeit. Besonders, wenn das Team eine gewisse Qualität erreichen und ein möglichst gutes Produkt abliefern möchte. Wartende Fans müssen sich also noch einige Zeit gedulden.

Last month you heard from me as we reflected back on 2021 and looked ahead to 2022 with the goal to communicate more often with our community and fans around the world. With that in mind, let’s start with the next game in development: the new Dragon Age.

As you may know, there are a few different stages to a game’s development. First are the Concept and Pre-Production phases, when a team works on the creative vision for the game and starts laying down the technical foundations – basically creating the conceptual and technological blueprint for the game. Iteration and flexibility are key here, as ideas and game mechanics are proposed, tested out, and refined. Once the blueprint is complete, the Production phase begins. Production is all about executing on the blueprint: taking those ideas and turning them into a working game. Eventually, a team hits Alpha and then Beta, where the polish happens, and the things that are special really come to life.

For the next Dragon Age, we are right in the middle of Production, which is a great feeling. Our blueprint was completed last year, so we’re now focused on building out our vision: creating amazing environments, deep characters, strong gameplay, impactful writing, emotional cinematics – and much more. The blueprint for the game is well understood and the team is focused.

As we continue our journey, we wanted to wish Christian Dailey a heartfelt farewell from BioWare. Christian started with us back in 2018 and has been a big influence on our games and leadership team, most recently as Executive Producer over Dragon Age’s development. The games industry is ever-changing though and sometimes folks want to go and try new things – we understand, but we will miss him as a friend and as a colleague.

A strong leadership team of industry and Dragon Age veterans is in place to carry us through Production and beyond. The game’s Production Director is Mac Walters, who recently led the development for Mass Effect Legendary Edition and has an 18-year history with BioWare. Corrine Busche, who has been leading the design direction for Dragon Age, is our Game Director. She has a wealth of experience, including 15 years at EA, and a passion for the franchise. Benoit Houle is the Director of Product Development, and he brings an in-depth understanding of the franchise thanks to having worked on every single Dragon Age game – starting over 16 years ago on Dragon Age: Origins. I will also be working more closely with the Dragon Age team as they go through production while continuing to guide the studio.

Later this year, you will start to hear more from the Dragon Age team in the form of blogs and social content. As we move through development we’ll also be in regular communication with players who sit on our community council. As passionate fans like you, we take their feedback seriously. We are also listening to all of you as you share your thoughts and experiences, so keep talking to us!

On other fronts, our Star Wars™: The Old Republic team led by Keith Kanneg, recently celebrated 10 years of amazing storytelling with the launch of our latest expansion, Legacy of the Sith. The team hasn’t stopped with just launching the expansion, and is already focused on more updates to continue the celebration all year long. You can see our launch trailer for the new release here; which was a creative collaboration with Industrial Light and Magic, and we absolutely love it.

And of course, we’re also working on the next Mass Effect. The team, led by Mike Gamble, is made up of a team of veteran developers as well as some new, really talented people. They are all actively prototyping new ideas and experiences. AAA next-gen games take a long time to make – and we know our fans may want them sooner. But our Number One priority needs to be quality, and that simply takes time to get it right.

As we embark on a new year of adventures, we’re excited to share more with you. Until then, thank you once again to all our fans. Here’s to a great 2022!

Stay well.

Gary McKay

(Via)

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