How Microsoft’s “Moronic Advice” Doomed Jade Empire From Becoming a Major Franchise

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Conversations about BioWare frequently revolve around Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or reminiscing about its early work on Baldur’s Gate.

However, had it not been for the “absolutely foolish advice” that reportedly hindered it, Jade Empire – a role-playing game based on martial arts and set in a world influenced by Chinese folklore – could have achieved similar or even greater success, as suggested by Greg Zeschuk, one of BioWare’s co-founders.

In an episode of the My Perfect Console podcast, Zeschuk shared a major regret: heeding Microsoft’s suggestion to abandon Jade Empire as the original Xbox approached its end.

From my perspective, if this game had been released a couple of months earlier as an Xbox 360 exclusive, it could’ve potentially thrived as an enduring series. Unfortunately, its release coincided with the arrival of the next-gen consoles, which left it somewhat overlooked in the ensuing wave of innovation.

Back in April 2005, I found myself utterly captivated by Jade Empire, a game that marked BioWare’s bold stride towards innovation, stepping away from the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic mold. What made it stand out? A unique blend of immersive role-playing, a gripping narrative, and a richly textured world drawn from the depths of Chinese folklore – a departure from the usual medieval fantasy or sci-fi realms.

Jade Empire received positive reviews from critics but struggled to attract a large player base. According to Zeschuk, the game’s release timing and association with Microsoft were likely factors in its underperformance. Microsoft persuaded BioWare that launching the game near the end of the Xbox’s lifespan was a wise decision, arguing that it was an ideal time to release due to its high quality. However, Zeschuk now regrets this choice, calling it “the biggest mistake ever.

When Jade Empire was first released, excitement for the Xbox 360 was building, with players eagerly awaiting the arrival of next-generation consoles. Fast forward six months, and the Xbox 360 hit shelves in November 2005. This marked a shift in focus from the original Xbox and its games, as everyone turned their attention to the new console.

Due to certain circumstances, Jade Empire didn’t have the opportunity to fully flourish. As stated by Zeschuk, if BioWare had been granted more time and launched Jade Empire as a launch title for the Xbox 360, it could have significantly altered its fate. Essentially, he suggested that with six additional months of development, they could have crafted another successful franchise. The extra development time would have allowed the team to improve the game, perfect the combat system, and fully utilize the capabilities of the new hardware.

In my perspective as an enthusiast, the Xbox 360’s launch wasn’t rich in role-playing games (RPGs). Microsoft’s initial lineup of first-party titles were more focused on games like Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Condemned: Criminal Origins. These games didn’t quite satisfy the craving for immersive, narrative-driven RPG experiences that many gamers, including myself, were seeking. If Jade Empire had been promoted as one of the console’s premier RPGs, it could have drawn a much larger fanbase and solidified BioWare’s position in the genre.

The game came out at an inconvenient moment; it was released either too close to the end of the original Xbox’s lifecycle, missing the chance to be a dominant title in its final months, or too soon to catch the enthusiasm for the new console.

Despite Jade Empire not being a commercial success initially, its devoted fanbase remained optimistic about a follow-up. For quite some time, whispers of Jade Empire 2 circulated, and at one point, BioWare even began developing it. The sequel was said to be set several decades after the original game. Regrettably, the project failed to progress beyond its early development stages.

At that time, BioWare heavily invested in Mass Effect and Dragon Age, which became major contributors to the studio’s future. Unfortunately, Jade Empire 2 was put aside and the series faded into obscurity. However, in 2019, Electronic Arts (EA) revived some anticipation by registering a new Jade Empire trademark, yet no further developments have been made since then.

1. The performance of Dragon Age: Veilguard isn’t ideal, and BioWare has experienced layoffs and restructuring, with their focus now solely on the next Mass Effect. This situation leaves Jade Empire in a precarious position, making its revival seem increasingly unlikely. Looking back, Zeschuk sees Jade Empire as a missed chance that might have had a different outcome with more favorable timing.

2. Dragon Age: Veilguard’s success isn’t what was expected, and BioWare has faced layoffs and restructuring, leaving them committed to the next Mass Effect exclusively. This leaves Jade Empire in a challenging position, making its comeback seem less probable than ever before. In retrospect, Zeschuk views Jade Empire as a missed opportunity that could have turned out differently with better timing.

3. The results of Dragon Age: Veilguard are disappointing, and BioWare has been hit by layoffs and reorganization, with their focus now solely on the next Mass Effect. This leaves Jade Empire in a difficult situation, making its return seem less likely than ever before. Upon reflection, Zeschuk sees Jade Empire as a missed chance that could have had a different outcome if timed better.

4. The outcome of Dragon Age: Veilguard isn’t what was anticipated, and BioWare has undergone layoffs and reorganization, devoting all their efforts to the next Mass Effect. This leaves Jade Empire in a tough spot, making its revival seem less feasible than ever before. In hindsight, Zeschuk considers Jade Empire as a missed opportunity that might have taken a different course with better timing.

5. Dragon Age: Veilguard’s success isn’t what was hoped for, and BioWare has had to deal with layoffs and reorganization, with their focus now exclusively on the next Mass Effect. This leaves Jade Empire in a tricky position, making its comeback seem less probable than ever before. In reflection, Zeschuk sees Jade Empire as a missed chance that could have had a different outcome if timed better.

If it were initially released for Xbox 360, it could have garnered the popularity necessary for further growth, much like how Mass Effect and Dragon Age expanded.

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2025-02-27 02:42