BioWare co-founder: game execs "have never made a game" and don't get it

BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk briefly returned to public discussion of the game industry after learning that Electronic Arts had closed the studio. He called the news sad, particularly for Edmonton, where BioWare had become an example of the creative work that could thrive outside the industry’s traditional centers. But his main concern was for employees suddenly facing a job search, which he described as frightening and painful. Zeschuk said he had already processed his own departure from BioWare years ago and has no plans to return to game development.

Zeschuk does not regret selling BioWare to EA, arguing that the deal provided stability and reduced the risks of growing independently. Still, he suspected the studio would struggle under new ownership by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund: BioWare’s unusual, complex games take a long time to make, unlike the annual sports releases he sees as a simpler business model. He also rejected the notion that mergers, staff turnover, or AI can readily reproduce successful games. His sharpest criticism was aimed at executives who have never made a game from beginning to end and therefore do not understand how development works. Having experienced that process himself, he said its personal cost and effort make returning to the industry unappealing.