10 REAL Reasons Why These Video Games Failed
2. Forced To Use An Incompatible Engine - Mass Effect: Andromeda
Bioware Edmonton is usually the one behind all of their games, but for the long awaited sequel to one of their two flagship franchises, EA outsourced development to Bioware's then new studio stationed out of Montreal. Not a problem in itself, but EA just couldn't leave well enough alone.
EA interfered with development at practically every step of the way. Most notably, like with Dragon Age: Inquisition, they forced the team to use the Frostbite engine, so that EA can avoid having to pay royalties for using a different engine.
Now, the Frostbite engine is a perfectly piece of kit in itself, but it's hardwired for FPS games. So while when used for first person shooter games like DICE's Battlefront 2, the engine soars, when applied to RPGs like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda, it falls flat on its face.
Now, Bioware Edmonton had enough experience with Frostbite to figure out how to get Inquisition over the finish line intact. A luxury not afforded to Bioware Montreal, who had to figure out how to make this engine made strictly for first-person-shooters work on a third person shooter RPG while MAKING said third-person shooter RPG.
Is it any shock at all that this game turned out such a mess?