BioWare to develop for PS3 in-house

By Tom Bramwell Published 27 November, 2009

"We think it's one of the key platforms."

BioWare plans to do PlayStation 3 development in-house from now on following the positive experience it had working on the console with Dragon Age: Origins.

"We think it's one of the key platforms, obviously, so we're definitely going to be doing PS3," BioWare final boss Greg Zeschuk told Joystiq when asked whether the studio would take control of PS3 development itself.

"You know, I can't say anything about Mass Effect in that regard but you know, I can definitely say Dragon Age and other things we do will definitely be on PS3.

"It was great going through the experience of making Dragon Age, getting familiar with and understanding the PS3. Again, every platform is different, but now I think we're at the position where future PS3 stuff will be really solid."

Pushed on the issue of Mass Effect 2 for PS3 - the game has only ever been announced for PC and Xbox 360, for which it comes out on 29th January - Zeschuk deflected. "We're not saying anything about Mass Effect for PS3. I don't know anything about that! That's crazy talk. I don't know anything about that," he joked.

Dragon Age was developed primarily for PC, but BioWare sought to make the console versions as similar to the template as possible, reworking the interface to suit controllers rather than mouse and keyboard.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • OnlyMe #1 2 years ago

    You THINK it's one of the key platforms? Out of FOUR platforms, it's actually ONE OF THEM?

    Geniuses.

  • Raz76 #2 2 years ago

    Doesn't that pretty much confirm Mass Effect on the PS3 then? Wouldn't he just have flat out denied it if it wasn't being developed?

  • JohnnyCullen Verified UK News Editor, VG247 #3 2 years ago

    It's more of a question of when, not if, we'll see Mass Effect for the PS3.

  • LHH #4 2 years ago

    yeah sounds like they will be putting Me on ps3. Be interesting to see what the reaction is if and when the news is announced.

  • Eurogameruser #5 2 years ago

    Let's hope they can improve the framerate of subsequent PS3 titles.

    From testing with two PS3 machines. One with standard HDD and the other a fast 200/200mb SSD. It appears to me most of Dragon Age PS3 hiccups come from the streaming of data from the BR and not the information installed on the HDD. If this is the case it looks unlikely they will be able to address this in a subsequent 'patch' PS3 owners are crying out for over on the bioware forums.

    They need to learn how to stream data more efficiently, and why not simply have a larger HDD install if your still going to rely on BR access during gameplay?

    As for Mass Effect 2. I think it's evident that there is a 360 exclusive timed console agreement, and it's only a matter of time (6 - 12 months) before we see the inevitable PS3 version, bundling in with it some of the extra DLC content that will be released in the interim period.

  • Peew971 #6 2 years ago

    That'll teach Microsoft to let them go...

  • Dizzy #7 2 years ago

    >That'll teach Microsoft to let them go...

    ????

  • Penguinzoot #8 2 years ago

    I know you guys read this as positive news for ME on the PS3 at some point in the future, but that's not the way I read it at all.

    "You know, I can't say anything about Mass Effect in that regard but you know, I can definitely say Dragon Age and other things we do will definitely be on PS3."

    Perhaps it's just me.

    /shrugs

  • Dave52 #9 2 years ago

    This is great news - they've done a fantastic job with Dragon Age on the PS3 (so good in fact, I suspect that EG won't be doing a face off).
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/09 @ 09:18

  • Moonprince #10 2 years ago

    ME confirmed for ps3 then.

  • markymark22 #11 2 years ago

    Who's marking down posts for just stating that the game may appear on the ps3?? Sad...

  • freakzilla #12 2 years ago

    I think Bioware is making the right choice, I think a higher percentage of PS3 owners are RPG fans than 360 owners.

    I think if they started developing for PS2 last gen they would have been a much bigger name in the console gaming world right now.

    WHAT? What did I say that's so wrong? I think Bioware should develop more PS3 games (nothing wrong with that), its not unreasonable to think PS3 owners like RPGs more since a large number of 360 owners are FPS/online gaming obsessed. And its also not untrue that if Bioware had a presence on the PS2 their name would be familiar to a lot more people right now.
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/09 @ 15:56

  • Quixz #13 2 years ago

    BioWare not looking at the Wii at all..?

  • Tricky #14 2 years ago

    I'm not totally convinced it will appear on PS3. Don't I remember hearing something about Microsoft having thrown a moneyhat at Bioware to keep it only on 360 on consoles?

  • superjag86 #15 2 years ago

    Could this mean SWTOR coming to both consoles perhaps?

  • hiddenranbir #16 2 years ago

    They're not exactly spoilt for choice anyway.

  • NorUraeus #17 2 years ago

    @Eurogameruser: They (or anyone else) don't need a bigger install, they just need to follow in Uncharted 2 footsteps and use the hard drive for caching.

  • davisorle #18 2 years ago

    Hell... The title of this article is way too missleading. The dude said that they learned really quicik how the PS3 coding works. They will be making titles forthe PS3. Nothing more nothing less. They made Dragon Age. Its same thing. He never said that Mass Effect is coming out on the PS3 nieither that they will be working on anything specific.. o.O

    Love Bioware. If They ever end up making remake of the Mass Effect 1+ 2, whoever doesnt have a decent PC nor a 360 should go buy them instantly both. The fact that Mass Effect 2 came out so early should let you Tom understand that PS3 version of Mass Effect 2 isnt even on the table yet. What you should have asked is if they are planning or already are working on remakes for the PS3 platform..

  • davisorle #19 2 years ago

    @Dave52
    you and your conpirances really.. Ive seen both versions and since we all undersand you on only a beloved PS3 of yours then you dont want to see the faceoff. But Hey, Since he said it in such a smart way please give him a faceoff.. Unless Dave you really think that Bioware with such experince on the platform of 360 they managed to make it worst than the PS3's. What planet are you from to share with me your kind of thinking. Btw in case you care so much they half raped both ports eitherway. Dragon Age looks WAY better on the PC. Its not as if Mass Effect 2 looking almost the same good on PC and 360. Far from it unfortunately.

    There has been a faceoff on another website. lets say it looks 100% on PC -> 79% on the 360 and 75-70% on the PS3. What was too obviously bad was the reflections and the resolutions of them on the PS3. Dont remember much else so google it if you want...

    Edit: Ignor typos on both posts please. I got an eye infection last night so I can barely see... :(
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/09 @ 10:52

  • Xerx3s #20 2 years ago

    "I think Bioware is making the right choice, I think a higher percentage of PS3 owners are RPG fans than 360 owners."

    Uhm, yeah, right. JRPGS maybe? WRPGS sold a shitload more on the 360.

    "I think if they started developing for PS2 last gen they would have been a much bigger name in the console gaming world right now."

    You mean like how bioware IP's where on the PS2?


    Bioware may not be the biggest in sales (well, over 2 million for ME is nothing to be sneered at) but they are one of the best. ME1 still is imo one of the best games this generation, if not THE best game this generation. ME2 looks like it will be even far better. The more people that can enjoy it the better I'd say.
    MS must be very pissed right now, they had a chance to have an exclusive on a maker of RPG masterpieces but instead they now see one of their ace cards go to the rival.
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/09 @ 10:54

  • StooMonster #21 2 years ago

    Are BioWare "lazy developers"?

  • feistycheese #22 2 years ago

    davis orle

    'Dragon Age looks WAY better on the PC. Its not as if Mass Effect 2 looking almost the same good on PC and 360. Far from it unfortunately. . . . . .

    'Ignor typos on both posts please. I got an eye infection last night so I can barely see...'

    ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------

    Then please dont be offended if I completely ignore your opinion on this one, how the hell can you tell which port looks better with a gammy eye? ;).

  • feistycheese #23 2 years ago

    Bieng serious, I've been waiting for a PS3 review/face off on this website for Dragon Age, but it hasn't appeared. My PC isnt up to scratch anymore, so if I was to purchase it then it would be for my ps3. But I dont want to buy a 'bad' port. Can an impartial reader who has the game please tell me if its still worth getting for my ps3?

  • Dave52 #24 2 years ago

    @feistycheese: "Can an impartial reader who has the game please tell me if its still worth getting for my ps3"

    I'm probably not gonna be considered impartial, as I dare to question some of the face-offs on here (particularly the MW2 and AC2 ones), but here's an interesting link all the same - <a href="http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6239466/ind ex.html?tag=result;title;0">Gamespot DA:o comparison
    Edited by 2 at 27/11/09 @ 11:42

  • feistycheese #25 2 years ago

    Dave 52

    Thanks, will check that out.

  • greenllama88 #26 2 years ago

    @feistycheese. I've been playing the PS3 version for a couple days now and am really enjoying it... It maybe doesn't look quite as sharp as the PC version but the graphics are still pretty good... I've had a couple slow downs in frame rate but nothing to worry about... I've found the controls to be pretty good as well but then I'm not really into the deep stratagy side of the game and just prefer to do all the combat in real time mainly play to enjoy the rest of the game... hope this was helpfull

  • glaeken #27 2 years ago

    I don't think ME1 can ever come out on the PS3 as I believe it was published by Microsoft Games so presumably they still hold the publishing rights and obviously they would not release a game on the PS3.

    Of course ME2 might go PS3 though with Bioware now being EA owned and published. I guess there could be some sort of contract with MS though for the ME brand that might still hold even after EA bought Bioware.

  • makeamazing #28 2 years ago

    Thanks for the info greenllama88, I was considering getting it on PC, but I just dont want to sit at my computer even more than i already do, so its good to hear that its ok on PS3.

    Unfortunately all the face-offs do is put doubt in the minds of gamers in most cases. AC2 is a perfect example, yes there are some tearing and pop-up issues, but i dont generally notice it.. most of the time unless the game is really crippled, you dont notice these things.

    I am loving story driven games right now, so probably going to pick DA up before Xmas :)

  • Syrette #29 2 years ago

    How is that "confirmation" of Mass Effect on PS3?

    He "really doesn't know". That doesn't rule out the possibility of it happening but it in no way confirms it.
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/09 @ 15:27

  • zedzee #30 2 years ago

    It's quite funny to hear developers call a PlayStation platform ""one of the key platforms", when only a generation ago, Sony didn't have to grovel - developers naturally flocked to the PlayStation brand.

    Now, it's no longer THE platform to develop for - it's just "one" of them!

    I'm not sure whether to slag off Sony for this blatant f*ck-up or congratulate Nintendo and Microsoft on catching up...

  • BabyJesus #31 2 years ago

    I don't have a PS3 myself(yet), but this is good news for PS3 owners, everyone should be able to play Bioware games, they are just too damn good to not be multi-plat.

  • TRUTH #32 2 years ago

    Hope they fix Dragon Age on PS3 (15hrs in)- the framerates on PS3 really do screw this game, also hope the loading times be shorter (god they take ages in some areas!).

    Patch needed NOW!

  • Ren_senshi #33 2 years ago

    @MESSIAH999
    "I very much doubt such a story driven game as mass effect will appear on sonys machine because surely they would have to go back and re-release the first game. Given the p.c. centric bioware and the problems/cost of multi plat ps3 development this is highly unlikely. other new IPs i dont think they would want to limit the potential buyers to 360/p.c."

    ME2 will be mostly independent from ME1, the main story will be completely different and from what I read on the previews the game does a good job of recalling the most important parts of ME1 and also reintroduces all of the characters from ME1, I will be getting the game on PC though, so I can carry over my save data and see the effect my choices in ME1 will have on ME2 ;)

    So yeah, the "story driven" aspect of ME2 will not be a problem.

  • TRUTH #34 2 years ago

    ME also has it rights owned by MS in some areas.

  • Ren_senshi #35 2 years ago

    If that's true then I guess it won't be ported unless it is a timed contract, but my only point in that post was that the game being story driven is not an obstacle in the face of a possible port.

    But even if it is ported I won't buy it on PS3, unless 1) It's released as a package(ME1 and ME2) or 2)They somehow find a way to enable my PC save to crossover to PS3, like using a pen and copying it to the PS3 which is about 100x more inlikely than the game being ported in the first place(i.e. 0.00001% chance, random percentages FTW).