In an alternate timeline, BioWare’s founders envisioned taking over EA following the launch of a Star Wars MMO. This ambition was discussed by Greg Zeschuk in a recent podcast interview, where he reflected on his time at the company and their hopes for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Zeschuk noted, “I lived in Austin for two-and-a-half years making Star Wars the Old Republic. If it had been incredibly successful, Ray and I might have attempted a takeover of EA as corporate pirates. But it didn’t turn out that way.”

Despite its massive budget and the potential as a leading MMORPG, The Old Republic did not perform as expected against competitors like World of Warcraft. While not a complete failure, it fell short of the ambitions Zeschuk had for its impact.

Zeschuk eventually left BioWare in 2012, alongside co-founder Ray Muzyka, and acknowledged that their hope for leveraging the game’s success into a corporate coup was merely a dream. He expressed skepticism about the workings of large companies, suggesting they often prioritize profit over games.

Today, The Old Republic remains in development, albeit under a different studio, and the prospects of Zeschuk’s ambitions for BioWare and EA continue to resonate in discussions around corporate gaming dynamics.