TOKYO, Sept. 26, 2003 — Microsoft Corp. and BioWare Corp. today announced that
“Jade Empire,” a fast-paced martial arts action role-playing game (RPG), is currently in development by critically acclaimed RPG developer BioWare, exclusively for the Microsoft® Xbox®
video game system. BioWare, whose publishing relationship with Microsoft for this product was announced one year ago at the X02 North America event in New York, has most recently been recognized for its highly successful game
“Star Wars® : Knights of the Old Republic (TM) .”
“We’re thrilled that BioWare’s next big game will be available only on Xbox,”
said Ed Fries, vice president of Microsoft game content.
“‘Jade Empire’ is sure to deliver a game experience that’s truly unique and exciting with our Xbox fans in mind.”
“Jade Empire”
is set in a new fantastical world based on mythical China, where sinister events have upset the peaceful harmony of an isolated martial arts school. Featuring furious action previously found only in Hong Kong cinema, the game lets players master more than 30 fighting styles and a wide range of mystical powers as they embark on a perilous journey, stretching from the Land of Howling Spirits to the lush gardens of the Imperial City.
“Jade Empire”
casts players in the role of a martial arts master and lets them choose between good and evil, choices that will follow them throughout the land, changing the course of interaction with other characters and followers. Developed with a revolutionary second-generation Xbox engine, the game will offer fans a stunning visual and gameplay experience.
“BioWare has enjoyed great critical and commercial success working with existing world-class intellectual properties,”
said Ray Muzyka, joint CEO and co-executive producer at BioWare.
“‘Jade Empire’ is the first totally new role-playing world created at BioWare, and we’re very excited about bringing the world of ‘Jade Empire’ to life.”
“BioWare has been thinking about crafting a martial arts action RPG as far back as during development of ‘Baldur’s Gate,’ over five years ago. We can’t wait to share this new world with our fans,”
said Greg Zeschuk, joint CEO and co-executive producer at BioWare.
“The incredible success of ‘Knights of the Old Republic’ proves that BioWare knows how to make an engaging RPG,”
Fries said.
About BioWare
BioWare Corp. is an electronic entertainment company that develops computer and console games. BioWare’s developers are currently hard at work on three major announced titles:
“Jade Empire,”
a BioWare-created intellectual property to be published by Microsoft for the Xbox;
“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,”
to be published by LucasArts for the PC; and the
“Neverwinter Nights (TM)”
expansion pack,
“Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark (TM) ,”
planned to be released by Atari in fall 2003. Two additional untitled projects, both featuring original BioWare intellectual properties, are also in development.
“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,”
released July 18, 2003, for the Xbox, is currently enjoying critical praise and great commercial success with its opening weekend launch, ending with Microsoft proclaiming the title as the fastest-selling Xbox game in history. Previously published projects include the award-winning
“Neverwinter Nights,”
the genre-defining
“Baldur’s Gate (TM)”
role-playing game series for the PC;
“MDK (TM) 2”
for Dreamcast and PC,
“MDK 2: Armageddon” for PlayStation®
2 and
“Shattered Steel (TM) .”
BioWare information can be found online at http://www.bioware.com/ .
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox video game system and the Windows®
and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/ ), including such franchises as
“Age of Empires® ,” “Flight Simulator”
and
“Zoo Tycoon (TM)”
; Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such franchises as
“Halo® ,” “Project Gotham Racing® ”
and
“NFL Fever”
; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ), the official games channel for the MSN®
network and home to such hits as
“Bejeweled”
and
“OutSmart (TM) .”
Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in the continents of North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
The information contained in this press release relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. The press release is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the press release or the information contained in it.
Microsoft, Xbox, Windows, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Project Gotham Racing, MSN and OutSmart are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Jade Empire (c) 2003 BioWare Corp. Jade Empire, BioWare Corp. and the BioWare logo are trademarks of BioWare Corp. in the United States, Canada and other countries. All rights reserved. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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