Bioware are generally a loved company, as they have released several iconic titles and have earned a place in gamers’ hearts. However, the recent developments around them haven’t been entirely positive. “Mass Effect 3” was met with mixed reception, as the conclusion of the game left some people feeling let down. The ending was described as underwhelming by most, and downright poorly executed by some, and even though Bioware made attempts to recover from the situation, their reputation was permanently affected by the incident.
Now, the company has been regularly claiming that they’re putting a lot of effort into the next installment of the series, hoping to earn back fans’ trust, and even more. And while this may be true, Bioware have managed to get on the public’s negative side yet again. Recent rumors pointed out that the game might not see a beta on the PC, as Bioware are planning to instead focus on its console versions for this stage of its development/release.
This has sparked controversy among PC gamers, who have been worried that they might not even see “Mass Effect 4” on the PC at all, if the beta is any indication. Subsequently, various fans have taken up the position that if Bioware are going to delay the game’s release on the PC – but not for consoles – they’re going to pirate the game in protest.
In response, Bioware have allegedly been reconsidering their decision for a PC release, as apparently piracy has been one of the company’s primary concerns in the first place. It’s not known if this is an official stance that just hasn’t been announced publicly yet, or just the product of unconfirmed rumors from within the company, but if Bioware really do decide to skip the PC with the release of the next “Mass Effect”, this could have a major impact on the company’s reputation – and not a positive one.
Still, fans have been hopeful that Bioware know what’s best for their franchise, and are developing the new game with the same kind of love and attention that they gave to the previous titles. Despite the ending of “Mass Effect 3” failing to live up to most fans’ expectations, the main part of the game was still excellent, according to most critics, and Bioware really did manage to move things forward both in terms of technology as well as storytelling. If “Mass Effect 4” builds on this success and continues the trend in the same direction, it could be one of the most iconic RPGs of all time, without even exaggerating – but this is hardly going to happen without a proper PC release.