BioWare New IP Dylan
A conceptual image for the new IP shown in 2014. BioWare

BioWare's mysterious new IP is reportedly a sci-fi game influenced by Destiny and Tom Clancy's The Division which will include co-op play and MMO elements. The project, first teased in 2014, is also apparently called Dylan, though that may be a codename.

The news comes from Liam Robertson, a journalist known best for his work with the excellent Did You Know Gaming? and Unseen 64. He reveals the new information, which he says he is "100% sure" about, on his Patreon podcast.

Only backers of Robertson's Patreon can listen to the podcast. We weren't backers prior to this story, but backed so we could hear his comments in full.

"They've been quiet about what their new IP is for a good while," Robertson says. "This is a project that's been in development for around four years, it's currently set to be revealed at E3 2017... I don't know if they've said this publicly, it's set to come out next year.

"It's name right now is 'Dylan' - there's no other way to say it right now, it's Dylan, as in Bob Dylan. I believe that relates to the main character."

Robertson admits he's not 100% sure if Dylan is a codename or not, saying that he's known the project to be called this for some four years, since he first learned of its existence.

"Dylan is, from what I understand, a sci-fi themed game, it is sort of Destiny-style, takes some elements from The Division, it has like MMO elements. Someone described it as a 'semi-MMO'. I don't know much more than that... it is a huge scale project, perhaps the biggest BioWare has ever done. It's bigger than Mass Effect Andromeda, considerably so. It will have co-op.

"From what I understand... I'm not 100% sure on this part... all the rest I am 100% sure on. It's like, triple sourced, rock solid information. This is the part where it gets a little sketchy as I've only heard this from one artist who's working on it.

"[He/She] says that the main character is this sort of like gorgeous Adonis and there is a female character as well - I'm not sure if you can play as her - but she's more schlubby looking and those are the two main characters."

BioWare Austin is currently working on Star Wars games according to comments Robertson made earlier in the podcast. The third studio, BioWare Montreal, recently released Mass Effect Andromeda and will be continuing to support that.

The New IP was revealed alongside an early look at Andromeda in a developer diary shown during EA's E3 2014 press conference. Only the very earliest concept footage was shown, with developers from BioWare describing the project in vague terms.

"We want to take on very contemporary stories and yet we want to build a world that is as big and as imaginative as everything we've done before. We're trying to build a fictional world that feels real and is alive and is constantly changing."

In January BioWare released a short statement about the game following EA CEO Andrew Wilson stating that game would be released before March 2018. In it, BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn said "In 2012, we began crafting a new universe full of new characters, stories, and gameplay. Our ambition is simple: Draw upon 20+ years of development knowledge and lessons to create something fun and new for you to enjoy with your friends.

"There's nothing quite as exciting as building a new IP from scratch, and it will be even more thrilling for us to share more with you in the future."

EA's E3 press conference this year will take place on Saturday 10 June.

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