BioWare and Pandemic join forces @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on November 03, 2005

News: Elevation Partners (AKA Bono's company) has brought the two powerhouses together.

Pandemic Studios, BioWare and Elevation Partners have announced that Pandemic and BioWare will join forces in an awesome display of video game developer power. MWAHAHAHAHA!

The new company will go by the name BioWare/Pandemic Studios and the pact will mainly focus on the exchange of development talent, creative ideas and new development technologies. The two studios will join together as one in "a partnership of equals."

And now for the requisite executive quotes:

"BioWare and Pandemic are truly among the greats of worldwide game developers. We at Elevation are proud to have been chosen by them to be their partners and to work with them in growing their businesses," said John Riccitiello, a managing director at Elevation Partners and CEO for the new holding company, BioWare/Pandemic Studios.
"Our most valuable assets are the people who make it all happen," said Josh Resnick, president of Pandemic Studios. "Our creative, production and operational staff are as vital to our success as directors and stars are to blockbuster films, and we are giving them the stakeholder recognition they deserve. Our mutual goal is to build the industry's best place for talent."

Greg Zeschuk, joint CEO of BioWare Corp., said that the cash infusion will take pressure off both companies to rush games to market before their time. "Great video games don't roll off the assembly line -- they are an art form, as lovingly crafted as a film, musical score, or novel," Zeschuk said. "That means taking the time to nurture top talent, then letting that talent work its magic. Fans are the real winners in this deal, because we will now have the resources and creative discretion to make the right decisions for our products. This is truly a new way of doing business."

BioWare is currently working on Mass Effect for the Xbox 360 and next up for Pandemic is Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers on the PC, PS2 and Xbox.