Jade Empire 2 makes noises

By Robert Purchese Published 3 January, 2008

EA gives closed fist.

EA has parried rumours that Jade Empire 2 is in development by unsurprisingly offering no comment.

It was responding to speculation spread by The Mercury News writer Dean Takahashi, who claimed a friend had seen code in action, thus proving its existence, which is about as convincing as Hulk Hogan's acting.

Apparently the Xbox 360 will be the platform of choice, following developer BioWare's historical console relationship with Microsoft - started by Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox in 2003.

However, the recent acquisition of the developer by EA suggests a PS3 version may go hand-in-hand.

Jade Empire was released in 2005 as an action role-playing game set in a mystical and mythical ancient Asian land. Typically for BioWare it featured heavy character interaction and lengthy dialogue sections, as well as began to favour a more twitch-based combat system.

Pop over to our Jade Empire review to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (28) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • BadBoyBonner #1 4 years ago

    Wow I am shocked ;-)

  • Dizzy #2 4 years ago

    More porting work for EA.

  • Eraysor #3 4 years ago

    And so the transition of Bioware from a great developer to a sequel machine begins....

  • Steroyd #4 4 years ago

    Didn't take long for a sequel from bioware to be rumoured to be in the pipeline.

    man, the original bored me to death.

    I second this notion.

  • smoothpete #5 4 years ago

    Good news, I really enjoyed the first one

  • The-Bodybuilder #6 4 years ago

    Bollocks to this. WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH MASS EFFECT 2?

  • MBar #7 4 years ago

    man, the original bored me to death.

    Also seconded. I just could not get into it at all. Gave up after about two hours of trying.

  • jlaakso #8 4 years ago

    I really liked Jade Empire. I think it didn't do too well at retail? Here's to hoping a sequel is indeed in the works.

  • Kelduum #9 4 years ago

    Jade empire was fine, until it turned into some kind of vertical shooter thing.

    Yes, people with magic powers and randomly inapropriate accents I can deal with.

    Vertical shooter minigames with insect-aircraft, and nothing really happening. No thanks.

    If I recall correctly, I got out of the first section, did some shooting, and ended up somewhere else and decided to play KoTOR again.


    Anyway, motion carried - Jade Empire was officially boring.

  • NewbieZilla #10 4 years ago

    They had said back in 2005 they wanted to make a franchise of this. Anyone reacting with surprise to the thought of a Jade Empire 2 really shouldn't.

    Anyway, I loved the first one. Not sure what they could do for continuity.

    Edit: Oh, I see, a questionable aircraft shooting game... That makes the game a disaster? Er...
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/08 @ 12:21

  • Triggerhappytel #11 4 years ago

    I also really enjoyed JE - Bioware did indeed want to make a sequel, but I thought a fairly flat retail performance had scuppered these plans.

    I'd like to see improved combat and perhaps a bigger adventure (you only really explore two main towns and their surroundings, as I recall, plus a few small-ish areas). I'd also like it a bit more in-depth and less streamlined than the first game - dammit, I want to micro-manage my weapons and armour; don't do it for me automatically!

    I'd also like to point out that most, if not all (?) of the dragonfly shooter sections were optional.

    Edited by 1 at 03/01/08 @ 12:31

  • Shanucore #12 4 years ago

    Yay. I really enjoyed the first Jade Empire. Jade Golem Form!

    @Triggerhappytel: IIRC the first shmup level was essential (travelling to the Imperial City) but after that they were an optional way to harvest experience/dosh. I might be wrong as it's been a few years. :)

  • UncleLou #13 4 years ago

    Didn't really like JE.

    So Bioware are doing Dragon Age (allegedly, I am not sure yet it isn't vapourware), the Mass Effect Trilogy, several unannounced (MMORPG?) projects, and JE2, possibly? Bit much for a developer who released about as many games in the last 15 years combined.

  • RexRunti #14 4 years ago

    I'm actually a little worried by how much work Bioware have going on at the moment.

    Jade Empire 2
    Mass Effect 2
    Dragon Age
    Sonic RPG
    Some unamed LucasArts project
    Some unamed MMO

    (This is a assuming their unamed next gen game is JE2)

    Bungie took years to make Halo 3 with a massive team and that was just one game. I just hope their not stretching themselves too far. (That said I seem to love every game they've produced ever so I'm quietly optimistic)

    Edit: What UncleLou said.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/08 @ 13:17

  • NickNack #15 4 years ago

    Linking to a Jade empire review. Must be a hella slow news day.

  • space_ace #16 4 years ago

    a PS3 version may go hand-in-hand... though a bit slower

  • kangarootoo #17 4 years ago

    @Eraysor

    Where have you been for the last 10 years. Bioware had enough sequels under their belt before EA bought them up.

    @Kelduum

    It didn't "turn into" a vertical shooter. It had vertical shooter gameplay whenever you travelled somewhere..... and it was OPTIONAL. The rest of the game had no vertical shooter content at all.

    For the record, I thought those sections were bobbins too, but like I said, you could simply choose not to bother with them and doing so made no difference whatsoever to the rest of the game.

  • kangarootoo #18 4 years ago

    Also I might add, this game has always divided people. Personally I really liked it, and the combat got considerably better once you got used to switching styles on the fly.

    Horses for courses really. For me a sequel would something to look out for (its too soon for a Mass Effect sequel imo, I always like a bit of a gap so a sequel feels fresh and I get the most out of it).

  • UncleLou #19 4 years ago

    Where have you been for the last 10 years. Bioware had enough sequels under their belt before EA bought them up.


    To be fair, the only sequel they did themselves was, as far as I know, Baldur's Gate II. Kotor 2 and NWN 2 were done by Obsidian.

    Could be the same here, though, of course.

  • L42yB #20 4 years ago

    I have 2 words for all you Jade Empire haters:

    Lesbian Threesome

    nuff said :)

  • Diomedes117 #21 4 years ago

    Given this is Bioware, a PS3 version will be unplayable. Not that this would be a bad thing!

  • Dragul #22 4 years ago

    @RexRunti

    Jade Empire 2
    Mass Effect 2
    Dragon Age
    Sonic RPG
    Some unamed LucasArts project
    Some unamed MMO

    There is a serious possibility that the last 2 are the same... I read somewhere LucasArts wants an new MMORPG, so who better to make it than there beloved KOTOR developer?!

    Anyway, I loved the JE, great action RPG (one that doesn't involve some european setting), I'm saving for an 360 counting on ME Triology and JE2

  • miiiguel #23 4 years ago

    I loved Jade Empire, one of the best wRPGs I've ever played.

    ME2 not yet please, I must play through it again, and again.
    Edited by 1 at 03/01/08 @ 18:37

  • MrAtheist #24 4 years ago

    Loading Screen 2. I cant wait.

  • kangarootoo #25 4 years ago

    @UncleLou

    Ah, I'd forgotten KOTOR2 wasn't done by them. Even if they had, 2 sequels isn't that many. I stand corrected :)

  • Nilsy #26 4 years ago

    ah grand! I liked the first one. though the combat system was a bit shallow considering the martial arts-theme and all. but it was fun still

  • Rodney #27 4 years ago

    I couldnt get into Jade EMpire mainly because of the voice work. American accents in a mythic oriental setting really didnt help the immersion.

    did anyone else find this?

  • Nilsy #28 4 years ago

    Rodney:

    Actually, yes, I did too.
    The voices combined with the boring script made me button-mash through most of the spoken dialogue and just read the text. And that weird made up language in place of ancient chinese was just stupid in my opinion. Sequel would REALLY benefit from more appropriate actors!

  • Fayt #29 4 years ago

    Really enjoyed the first game and preferred the martial arts theme to Mass Effect's Science fiction theme. A sequel would be great!