Associate Quality Designer

Mass Effect 5 and BioWare's future uncertain following buyout, former EA manager now says. A former EA manager has cast doubt on whether Mass Effect 5 will survive the company's recent $55 billion takeover. Aug 20, 2026 Tom Phillips 7 views A former EA manager has cast doubt on whether Mass Effect 5 will survive the company's recent $55 billion takeover. The long-awaited next installment in BioWare's beloved sci-fi series has been in early development for some time by a small team, though still lacks any form of release window. And there are longer term concerns among BioWare fans for the future of the studio itself, after its post-Dragon Age: The Veilguard downsizing. BioWare is fully owned by EA, which this month went private in a leveraged buyout worth $55 billion backed in large part by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, as well as the U.S. private equity firm Silver lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners. Analysts now expect EA's new owners to begin seeking a return on their investment, with obvious avenues here being a doubling down on the company's hugely lucrative sports franchises, as well as key shooter franchise Battlefield. But what about everything else that EA owns? Between EA Sports FC and Madden, where does BioWare factor in? This is a subject that former EA senior manager Emmanuel Rosier has now discussed with PC Gamer, following a tenure that lasted nearly a decade. "In the middle you have these IPs like the BioWare IPs," said Rosier, now director of market intelligence at industry analyst firm Newzoo. "They've been struggling as a studio, as a brand have been struggling in recent years, and I don't know if they will keep funding that one. I think that's the biggest question mark for me." Here, Rosier is referring to BioWare's recent list of releases, many of which have underperformed. After the franchise-best sales of Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare sought live-service success with Anthem, then spent the best part of a decade on Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Both underperformed. Mass Effect, meanwhile, has seen mixed success. Mass Effect Andromeda is widely considered a disappointment among fans, though the series' more recent Legendary Edition remaster was well-received. Will EA's new owners allow BioWare to keep rolling the dice on Mass Effect once more, and continue on with its development? "I will believe it when I see it, the next Mass Effect game, let's put it that way," Rosier stated, noting that BioWare projects typically take a very long time to release, something that sees development costs spiral. "I've worked many years with BioWare, sometimes it can stretch for years and years until something comes," he continued. "I think everything can happen at this moment. They can pull the plug very, very easily. And if the new investor, they don't have that many feelings about the history of the portfolio, they will take the most financially sound decision most probably." While there's still no suggestion of when Mass Effect 5 will actually arrive, BioWare has spent the past half a decade gradual teasing its setting and story. Vainsoftgames know that Mass Effect 5 will be set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3, and feature a narrative that re-centers the action on the franchise's original Milky Way setting, long after the Reapers were defeated. Presumably, by the point Mass Effect 5 is set, the many ripples of your ME3 ending choices will have largely smoothed out. Fan-favorite character Liara is back, hundreds of years older, as are the geth. Andromeda races are also expected to make an appearance, suggesting contact has been made with the colonists that travelled there. The intervening years have been rough on the warlike krogan, who fought a civil war. But there's still an N7 program - and it looks a lot like you'll be playing a fresh member of its elite ranks. Romance is also (of course) making a return, and it sounds like the Paragon/Renegade system will be back, too. Hopefully bridging the gap to Mass Effect 5 will be Amazon Prime Video's live-action Mass Effect series, which is taking its time to go into full production but currently sounds like it might actually get made. This will also be set after the events of Mass Effect 3, and tell a fresh story that sounds like it will ease fans towards ME5's era. Earlier this year, Mass Effect TV series co-showrunner Daniel Casey refuted a report that suggested the upcoming adaptation had recently undergone rewrites to be "more appealing to non-gamers." Will the existence of this TV project encourage EA bosses to keep BioWare cooking? Time will tell. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

The Sims 4 is bringing the movies home as Clueless and Mean Girls bring their looks to the game. August 19, 2026 Electronic Arts have announced that The Sims 4 is going to make fetch happen next week when Mean Girls and Clueless bring their iconic looks into the game via two new capsule kits. The Mean Girls Capsule Kit makes fetch happen with stylish Y2K looks that'll turn Sims into teen royalty, and there's no limit to all the ways players can mix and match styles. Whether they're strutting the halls in miniskirts and matching sweaters, getting ready for a rockin' jingle bell performance with a festive matching hat, repping the Mathletes with the signature team jackets, or showing everyone they're a COOL mom in a comfy velour tracksuit, every outfit is built for attitude. Maxi-Geek is sorry if anyone gets jealous of your Sim, but they simply can't help being popular. The Clueless Capsule Kit will bring chic '90s looks that'll have the whole neighbourhood jealous, adding a fresh dose of retro glamour to your wardrobe. Inspired by the film's unforgettable fashion, this collection is packed with nostalgic outfits thoughtfully updated for a new age of stories. From Cher's iconic plaid set to effortlessly chic everyday ensembles, every outfit is designed to make a bold statement. Layered tops, button-front skirts, sporty workout wear and Tai-inspired overalls make it simple to mix, match and craft standout looks, whether your Sim is "rollin' with the homies" or confidently flying solo. Both kits will be available on August 28, (August 27 for North America cause time zones) and will set you back $7.95 each. The Kits will be available on the store for PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Luke Henderson

How EA FC 27 Evolutions let you build your own player with new Pathways & Evolution Chain Preview? Posted: Aug 19, 2026 EA dedicated a significant portion of their FUT Deep Dive for FC 27 to Evolutions, including the new Pathways, Evolution Chain Preview, and the updated PlayStyles Lab, claiming to provide players with more options and more comprehensive planning tools. How exactly do these work, how will they change Ultimate Team gameplay, and which players are suitable for Evolutions? I will explain in detail below. The traditional positioning of Evolutions. Since its introduction to UT in FC 24, the core positioning of Evolutions has never been simply to make low-rated players stronger. Instead, it allows players to gradually upgrade specific players in their club through missions, ultimately creating a unique, untradeable card with individual characteristics. The basic process of Evolutions remains unchanged: select eligible players to add to the Evolution, complete challenges such as matches, and then receive permanent attribute or trait upgrades. Meanwhile, the studio will continue to release new Evolutions throughout the game. In FIFA 27, the focus shifted to player-driven upgrade decisions and pre-planned upgrade strategies. In FUT Deep Dive, Pathways and Evolution Chain Preview were explicitly defined as two core updates to the game's Evolutions system. FC 27 Evolutions new content. Pathways. Previously, an Evolution generally followed a fixed path; the attributes and playstyle a player would receive after selection were usually predetermined. FUT 27 allows some Evolutions to branch during upgrades, allowing players to choose between different enhancement directions. For example, the same midfielder could choose an offensive path, improving dribbling and gaining Technical; or a defensive path, improving defensive awareness and gaining Jockey. In other words, the same base card entering the same Evolution could result in two completely different players depending on the player's choices. Of course, not all Evolutions use Pathways; traditional linear Evolutions still exist. Evolution Chain Preview. A major problem when planning Evolutions was: after placing a player in one Evolution, would they still be usable in the next? FC 27 directly incorporated this planning feature into the game. Players can preview the changes an Evolution will bring to a player, and then further view which subsequent Evolutions are available for that player after completing this evolution. Therefore, Evolution is no longer just a series of iterations, but has become a long-term development system where players can plan their own paths in advance. PlayStyles Lab update. The biggest change in PlayStyles Lab this time is that players no longer start with a completely unspecified player. Eligible Player Items will come with some PlayStyles, which players can customize in the remaining PlayStyle slots. At the same time, the acquisition conditions for different PlayStyles will also differ; some stronger or more valuable PlayStyles require more time and effort to unlock. This effectively limits the possibility of completely transforming a card into another player, while preserving the space for player customization. The official statement explicitly states that they hope to preserve the original characteristics of players in this way and encourage players to create more diverse lineups and playing styles. After learning about all the changes to Evolutions, are you eager to show off your skills in the new game? Join IGGM FC 27 Facebook group! IGGM is having a free giveaway of FC 27 Editions - participate for a chance to play for free! Impact on Ultimate Team. The biggest change in FUT 27's Evolutions is the significantly increased decision-making cost and planning value for players. Previously, developing an Evo only required judging whether the card was worth evolving. In FIFA 27, however, further considerations are needed: Which Evo is best for this card now? Which Pathway should be chosen? Which Evo can be followed after this? What will the final result be? This means that developing players will now resemble a skill tree more closely. Especially for players with low OVR but good physical attributes or unique playstyle combinations, the value of Evolutions may be further enhanced. This is because they don't necessarily need to be the highest in all attributes; as long as they can form a special configuration that suits their individual tactical needs through continuous Evolutions, they can become long-term starters. Of course, Evolutions are not the whole story of squad building. Whether it's acquiring key players from the Transfer Market or building a more suitable squad around Evo players, a certain amount of FUT resources are required. If needed, you can buy FC 27 coins at IGGM.com to quickly build your roster. Also, don't forget to use its IGGM Points System. Register and log in to your account to earn points through daily check-ins, which can be directly deducted from your order amount. How to select players for evolution? When selecting Evo players in FC 27, it's recommended not to only look at the initial OVR, but to consider the following dimensions: Basic attributes. Core attributes such as speed, defense, and physique determine whether a card can reach a practical level after several upgrades. A player with a lower initial rating but excellent key attributes is often more suitable for Evo than a player whose overall performance is mediocre. PlayStyles. Since Pathways and PlayStyles Lab allow players to further develop players, players who already possess excellent PlayStyles and can compensate for their weaknesses through Evo will have higher potential. Future Evolution Chain. Don't immediately use an Evo that meets the requirements. First, use Evolution Chain Preview to observe whether it can be used to continue with other Evolutions. If a card currently only grants a +3 rating, but can later be included in multiple eligible Evos, its long-term value may far outweigh a one-time larger upgrade. In conclusion, EA Sports FC 27's Evolutions have essentially shifted from simply upgrading players to allowing players to design their own. This is also the biggest change to FUT gameplay brought about by the true integration of Pathways, Evolution Chain Preview, and PlayStyles Lab. Players are no longer just looking for the strongest cards, but for the cards best suited for their long-term development.