Update August 31, 2016: Peter Moore has spoken up about EA remasters again, shattering any dreams you might have had for Mass Effect remasters any time soon.
Only two weeks ago, in the story below, EA exec Patrick Soderlund reignited fan hopes for Mass Effect remasters, but it looks like we won’t be getting any in the near future.
Is there anything in our list of the best old games that you’d like to see touched up?
“We’re a company that is focused on delivering for the future,” Peter Moore told IGN. “I was asked a question once [about remasters and I said] it’s just not what we do. We’ve got incredibly talented dev studios around the world who are focused on delivering new IP, new experiences, [and] more and more live services.”
He goes on to say EA could make an “easy buck” remastering Mass Effect, and he also acknowledged demand, but he says EA are focused on getting Mass Effect Andromeda out the door before even considering looking back. “Anything that distracts” from Andromeda, he says, it not of interest to EA.
“Do we have teams lying around that are doing nothing right now that [can go and make remasters]? No we don’t,” Moore continued. “We want to focus on the future and delivering new IP and new experiences. There’s easy money to be made all over this industry, but the real focus should be on being player-first and focused on delivering new IP and new experiences and that’s where our real focus is.”
The interviewer then turns this question around, pointing at the player demand for something like Mass Effect remasters.
“Is there demand? Yes, there’s thousands of people who want it,” he admitted. “Our blinders are on and [we are] looking toward future. We’re a 34-year-old company that has thousands of pieces of IP around the world. Road Rash! If you allow yourself to take the easy road – not to diss remastering great franchises – but there are so many opportunities for us to have people go to something else.”
Ta, Gamespot.
Original Story August 16, 2016: EA have reversed their position on game remasters, saying it’s now something they are considering. Surely the Mass Effect trilogy would be among the first to get some loving, if EA do go down this route.
Last year EA said they weren’t interested in looking back – they just wanted to devote resources to pushing forward. A lot can happen in a year, though, and now EA are one of the only big players who haven’t tapped into their back catalogue for some remaster cash.
Speaking to Game Informer at Gamescom, it seems that stance has changed.
“What’s changed is that there is proof in the market that people want it, maybe more than there was when we spoke,” explains Patrick Soderlund, executive vice president for EA Studios. “There were some that did it before, but I think there is even more clear evidence that this is something that people really want.
“The honest answer is that we are absolutely actively looking at it. I can’t announce anything today, but you can expect us most likely to follow our fellow partners in Activision and other companies that have done this successfully.”
While Soderlund never directly references Mass Effect, the question asked was specifically about Mass Effect remasters and, anyway, what else are they going to make?
Bad Company 2 would be at the top of my list, outside of Mass Effect. What would you want?