One of 2010's Most Anticipated Blockbuster Videogames Ships to Stores
Worldwide Today
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan 26, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Welcome back Commander Shepard. Prepare to fight for the lost! BioWare(TM),
a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), announced today that Mass
Effect(TM) 2, the sequel to the award-winning science-fiction phenomena Mass
Effect, has begun shipping to retailers worldwide. Noted for its
intense shooter gameplay and deep, hand-crafted story, Mass Effect 2
has received universal acclaim from top media outlets around the world,
earning an average review score of 97 based on 29 reviews on the Xbox
360(R) video game and entertainment system, making the game the second
highest rated game for the platform of all time and 95 on PC.* This
includes perfect scores from 360 Magazine (5/5), Destructoid
(10/10), Eurogamer (10/10), Eurogamer Italy (10/10), Eurogamer Spain
(10/10), G4 TV (5/5), Game Daily (10/10), Gamespy.com (5/5), GamesRadar
(10/10), gamesTM (10/10), Official Xbox Magazine UK
(10/10), TeamXbox (10/10), Total PC Gaming (10/10),
VideoGamer.com (10/10) and X360 Magazine (10/10). Time Magazine
says Mass Effect 2 is "the Avatar of video games - except it's
better written", and USAToday.com says "Mass Effect 2 sets the
bar high for 2010."
Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the
RPG/MMO Group of EA commented on the launch of Mass Effect 2
saying, "Rich, immersive worlds, compelling characters and stories, and
intense action are some of the hallmarks of BioWare games, and Mass
Effect 2 truly raises the bar in every area. I'm incredibly proud of
our team, who worked passionately to deliver a very high quality game
for our fans. This epic sequel in the stunning Mass Effect
universe is an extraordinary accomplishment, one which we can't wait to
get into the hands of a world-wide audience!"
The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set
in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious,
uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step
into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of
some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a
mission so challenging that it's potentially suicidal. Featuring intense
shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and
emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an
unparalleled cinematic experience.
Gamers who purchase a new copy of Mass Effect 2 will also be able
to activate the 'Cerberus Network', an in-game portal in Mass
Effect 2 that will keep fans engaged with the Mass Effect
universe through downloadable content (DLC) and news at no extra charge.
The first piece of DLC is available today, featuring a new mission
around the Normandy crash site. For players who do not buy the game new,
the 'Cerberus Network' can be unlocked through a one-time,
in-game purchase of an activation code for 1200 MS points on the Xbox
360 and $15 on the PC.** BioWare will release additional news on future 'Cerberus
Network' content in the coming weeks.
Mass Effect 2 is available for the Xbox 360 and the PC and is
rated 'M' for Mature by the ESRB and '18+' by PEGI (please visit www.esrb.org
and www.pegi.eu
for more information on ratings). For more information, please follow
the development team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2
or visit the game's official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.
* According to Metacritic.com.
** Activation is tied to a specific EA Online account and is
non-transferable.
About BioWare
BioWare develops high quality console, PC and online role-playing games,
focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds to
discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's most
critically acclaimed titles, including Baldur's Gate(TM), Neverwinter
Nights(TM), Star Wars(R): Knights of the Old Republic(TM), Jade
Empire(TM) and Mass Effect(TM). BioWare operates in Edmonton
(Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec) and Austin (Texas). BioWare's
announced projects include the dark heroic fantasy game Dragon Age:
Origins, as well as Mass Effect 2(TM), the epic sequel to Mass
Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer online game, Star
Wars(R): The Old Republic(TM). In 2008, BioWare was acquired by
Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher.
For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com;
to join the millions of fans already registered on our community, go to social.bioware.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in
1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless
devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
four brand names: EA(TM), EA SPORTS(TM), EA Mobile(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2009,
EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold
more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com.
More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can
be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or
registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing)
Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and
POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in
the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the
Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc.
EA
Andrew Wong, 650-628-2781
Sr. PR Manager
anwong@ea.com
Cindy Lum, 650-628-3835
Senior Publicist
clum@ea.com
or
47 Communications
Brian Rubin, 212-391-4707
brian@fortyseven.com
Copyright Business Wire 2010