AJSN WK44A- Star Wars BATTLEFRONT 3?!, EA CLOSES BIOWARE & MASS EFFECT, Clayface BOX Office FLOP?!

Summary

Box Office: Clayface and Street Fighter

The panel said Clayface opened to about $43 million worldwide, slightly below the reported $45 million target. They praised the audience response and argued that relatively modest budgets can make niche comic-book films viable. They also debated whether DC should establish its major characters before branching into less familiar stories.

Street Fighter had earned about $76 million over two weekends, including a steep second-weekend drop. The panel doubted it would be a major financial success, though they liked its casting and hoped future installments would improve the editing.

BioWare Layoffs and Cancelled Mass Effect Project

The panel discussed reports that EA was cutting around 400 jobs, with BioWare effectively shutting down and a Mass Effect project being cancelled. They mourned BioWare’s legacy but argued that its decline reflected years of troubled management and shifting direction, often attributed to EA. They cited repeated Dragon Age restarts and the push toward live-service games.

The panel rejected explanations that blamed the studio’s downfall solely on culture-war controversies, while also criticizing the writing and quality of recent games.

The Future of Mass Effect

The cancellation does not necessarily mean the franchise is over. The panel noted that a petition to save Mass Effect had attracted more than 200,000 signatures, and that an Amazon Mass Effect series remained in development.

They also discussed a leaked, unfinished trailer for the cancelled project, stressing that it appeared to be a concept rather than a polished game. Reported ideas included smaller-scale, “James Bond”-style adventures and the return of the geth. The panel questioned how those details might fit with the original trilogy’s endings.

Possible Star Wars Battlefront 3

Reports that DICE and Respawn are working together on a new Star Wars game prompted speculation that it could be Battlefront 3, but the panel emphasized that it had not been officially confirmed.

They welcomed the prospect while warning that EA might load a full-priced game with battle passes and other microtransactions. One host said a new Battlefront would need to bring back Galactic Conquest to win him over.

EA’s Business Strategy and Other Games

EA’s announced or ongoing projects include Iron Man, another Star Wars Jedi game, a Star Wars first-person shooter, a new Battlefield, continued Apex Legends support, The Sims, Skate, and sports titles.

The panel worried that EA’s reliance on familiar franchises and monetization may not be enough to address its financial pressures. They criticized sports-game card packs and virtual-item purchases, noting that players’ teams can lose value when a new annual game arrives. They also questioned whether college football games can remain profitable as player-compensation costs rise and revenue from their Ultimate Team mode reportedly trails Madden’s.

Presenters and Contributors

Angry Joe, Alex, and Other Joe.