BioWare Co-Founder Regrets Releasing Jade Empire for Original Xbox

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Summary

  • Greg Zeschuk regrets releasing Jade Empire for the original Xbox at the end of its cycle, hindering its success.
  • Plans for a Jade Empire sequel were canceled after it was in development, with BioWare shifting focus to Mass Effect.
  • BioWare’s current focus is on Mass Effect, making a Jade Empire sequel less likely despite fan hopes.

Greg Zeschuk, a co-founder of BioWare, has recently expressed his biggest regret about Jade Empire, stating that it was unfortunate to release it towards the end of the original Xbox’s lifecycle. Jade Empire is one of BioWare’s lesser-known games, given that it never got a follow-up title.

Originally released for Xbox in 2005, “Jade Empire” later appeared on PC in 2007 and mobile devices in 2016. Set in a world influenced by Chinese folklore, “Jade Empire” places the player as the final Spirit Monk, embarking on a journey to rescue their master while battling the forces of evil along the way. Often hailed as one of BioWare’s finest creations, “Jade Empire” unfortunately never received a sequel, and a recent interview with Zeschuk may shed some light on the reasoning behind this decision for gaming enthusiasts.

In a chat with the My Perfect Console podcast, Greg Zeschuk stated that he thinks the primary cause for the game’s lack of popularity was its release towards the end of the original Xbox’s lifespan. Zeschuk commented, “Microsoft suggested we release it then, right at the end of the cycle… it was the wrong advice.” If BioWare had waited for the launch of the Xbox 360, which was significantly more successful than its predecessor, Jade Empire might have garnered a larger following and greater success.

BioWare Co-Founder Regrets Releasing Jade Empire for the Original Xbox

Microsoft essentially advised that it would be ideal to launch the product towards the end of the development cycle, as it would supposedly be an excellent timing. However, in reality, this turned out to be the most detrimental advice they could have given.

There have been occasional whispers about a new installment in the Jade Empire series following its initial release. In 2019, Electronic Arts (EA) even registered a trademark for Jade Empire, sparking excitement among fans for a potential sequel that ultimately did not materialize.

2021 saw Mark Darrah, a former BioWare developer, disclose that the sequel to Jade Empire, titled Jade Empire 2, had been terminated during its developmental phase. The production for this game commenced shortly after the launch of the initial title and would have taken place several decades later in the timeline. Unfortunately, significant shifts occurred within BioWare around that time, leading them to prioritize Mass Effect over Jade Empire 2, ultimately resulting in the project’s demise.

For quite a while now, enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for a follow-up to the popular game “Jade Empire“, but it appears that the chances of this happening are dwindling. Following the disappointing performance of “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” against EA’s projections, BioWare underwent a round of layoffs and some team members were reassigned to different studios. At present, what remains of the studio is wholly dedicated to the unannounced release date of “Mass Effect“.

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2025-02-27 00:04