3 Video Game Studios That Have One More Shot at Redemption

In the gaming world, it can take years to build a reputation, but only a moment to shatter it. Beloved studios can go from being pioneers to controversial after just a few missteps. And sadly, there have been many developers who have faced this journey. For others, they are on the brink, a single moment from slipping out of the good graces of gamers. Whether it’s a disappointing sequel, a rocky live-service experiment, or a creative burnout, some of gaming’s greats find themselves with one last chance to redeem themselves and reclaim their former glory.

Some of the most iconic names in gaming history find themselves standing at this crossroad now. Each once represented the pinnacle of storytelling, innovation, or community engagement. But after a string of creative misfires, technical problems, or questionable management decisions, their reputations have taken hits that once seemed unthinkable. Each studio has an upcoming game that may make or break them forever.

3) BioWare

For years, BioWare was considered among the best for its narrative excellence. From Baldur’s Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to Mass Effect and Dragon Age, the studio was untouchable. It was a master of emotional storytelling and meaningful choice. The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best in gaming to this day, and Dragon Age: Origins still receives praise. But somewhere along the way, the magic faltered, something that can be traced back to its acquisition by EA in 2007.

Read Next

An Old Mass Effect Fan Theory Suddenly Makes Perfect Sense for Mass Effect 5’s Story

After years of missteps, Mass Effect 5 is the last straw for BioWare. It was initially teased in 2020, but it has had years of silence until it was confirmed to be in pre-production earlier this year. Fans shouldn’t expect this game for some time, possibly in 2030. But this could be the last game BioWare makes if it meets expectations, which are quite lofty considering the series’ history. Mass Effect: Andromeda failed to live up to the hype, but this isn’t the only blunder the studio has made in recent years.

Anthem was one of the biggest projects after the acquisition, a live-service game that had a bold premise. Unfortunately, that was all it had, as there was a lack of content and direction. Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been received as mid to best, possibly ending the series with its failure. There is the potential for BioWare to make a comeback, but it really needs to figure out what it wants to do with Mass Effect 5 and ensure its success.

2) Halo Studios (343 Industries)

For over 20 years, Halo has been a gaming icon. From LAN parties on the original Xbox to massive online battles on Xbox Live, the series has defined an era and helped shape the modern shooter genre. It was created by Bungie, which led the series through its best games, as well as fantastic spin-offs like Halo Reach and Halo 3: ODST. But then Bungie handed the Halo series to 343 Industries, Microsoft’s internal studio.

Fans were understandably cautious, after all, the original Halo trilogy is regarded as one of the best in the gaming industry. Halo 4 was received well enough, but it leaned heavily into many changes with its storytelling that divided the community. Then Halo 5: Guardians arrived, and while it was visually impressive, it divided fans even more. The fragmented story was disappointing, especially considering how it was marketed and how Master Chief was sidelined.

Halo Infinite was an improvement in some ways. The multiplayer was fun, but was diminished by the live-service feel, and the campaign was almost a return to the form if it weren’t for the repetitive open world. The game was a success, but fans were tired of how Halo was being treated, especially after the TV adaptation. 343 Industries has now rebranded to Halo Studios, and it has one last chance to do right by fans of the series.

1) Bungie

Ironically, while 343 Industries has struggled with Halo, Bungie has struggled without it. Destiny was its first title after giving up the iconic franchise, and it proved to be a massive success. It reshaped live-service games by mixing MMO elements with the studio’s iconic gunplay. It enjoyed a time of success, but cracks began to show as the studio made decisions like content vaulting, monetization changes, and inconsistent storytelling.

The community was further divided with the launch of Destiny 2. The transition was rough, with many wondering if it even was a sequel. Bungie released expansion after expansion, having mixed success with these. But these past few years have been rough for Bungie as Destiny 2 is repeating many of the mistakes the first game saw. The studio itself has seen a change of ownership, first launching Destiny under Activision, and now finding itself belonging to Sony. And this leads to Marathon.

Marathon is Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, and the reception has been mixed. Gameplay-wise, fans seem to love it, though the change in aesthetic has been jarring compared to the original games. But what is most damaging is the controversy surrounding stolen art and how Bungie handles team morale. Sony appears to be stepping in with more direct involvement, eyeing up a release for next year. Marathon has to be a success, or Bungie may find itself fading from the gaming industry forever.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!