To anyone familiar with the gaming industry, Bioware and the games it creates are a big deal. The company helped redefine Western role-playing games with its Dragon Age series, and were one of the first major publishers to introduce consequence in gaming with The Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect games. The studio is an RPG powerhouse, and it has released some of the biggest, most influential titles of the last generation. So, when a new game by the studio is leaked, people tend to take notice.
That's exactly what has happened now. Through a listing on Australia's Classification Board, fans have confirmed that Bioware is preparing a new title that has yet to be announced, going by the name Green Cloud.
The Australian Classification Board is the Australian government's way of rating entertainment. While Americans have the ESRB for gaming and the MPAA for film, Australian entertainment all goes through one place. Since all forms of entertainment have to pass the Classification Board's approval, it has caused controversy in the past, but it's also revealed a number of projects before they were officially announced.
Now, the big question is: what is Green Cloud? With Bioware getting ready to release Dragon Age: Inquisition in November, it wouldn't be related to that game. On top of that, the company has also announced a new Mass Effect title, and even showed the game at this year's e3. The studio also teased a new IP at the same show, which was subsequently revealed to be Shadow Realms. So, if it's not something fans already know about, what is it?
Signs point to yet another entirely new IP, though it is possible that Green Cloud could be a spin-off to another, previously existing franchise. The Classification Board gave the game a 'MA 15+' rating (similar to our own 'M for Mature' rating), which could link it to any one of the Bioware's previously existing IPs.
Bioware has yet to comment on the classification, though most developers refuse to comment on leaks. For now, it seems that gamers will have to wait for Bioware to officially announce Green Cloud before we know exactly what it is.
