Replay: Dr Greg Zeschuk, co-founder BioWare.
Replay: Dr Greg Zeschuk, co-founder BioWare.  
Podcast: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin
Published On: Thu Oct 22 2026
Description: Yesterday came the news that EA plans to close BioWare, the Edmonton studio behind Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I thought it was a good moment to revisit my conversation with Dr Greg Zeschuk, one of BioWare’s co-founders. We talk about the games that shaped him, and the long, remarkable journey of a studio that defined computer and console role-playing games for millions of people. Here’s my conversation with Greg Zeschuk.[Original description] Greg Zeschuk is the co-founder of Bioware. While a medical student at the University of Alberta he told his future wife that, if he could, he’d make video games for a living. After he graduated, the dream came true when, in 1995, he and two friends y founded Bioware in his basement. The following year the trio released Shattered Steel and, two years after that, Baldur’s Gate, which revolutionised the world of computer role-playing games.In the years that followed Bioware released a string of blockbuster hits, including Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In 2007, just 12 years after its founding, the companywas sold to Electronic Arts as part of a deal worth $860 million. In recent years, my guest started a brewing company, Blind Enthusiasm, and today runs two microbreweries and a restaurant in Edmunton, where he has spent most of his life.NOTESGreg Zeschuk – BioWare & breweryGreg Zeschuk – WikipediaBlind Enthusiasm Brewing Company – official siteBlind Enthusiasm – The Monolith taproom, EdmontonGreg Zeschuk on BioWare’s closure – WiredBioWareBioWare – WikipediaRay Muzyka – BioWare co-founder, WikipediaAugustine Yip – BioWare co-founder, WikipediaGreg’s Perfect ConsoleAdventure (Atari 2600, 1980) – WikipediaWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II, 1981) – WikipediaDungeon Master (Atari ST, 1987) – WikipediaDiablo (1996) – WikipediaElden Ring (2022) – official siteElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC – WikipediaBioWare games discussedBaldur’s Gate (1998) – WikipediaBaldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) – WikipediaStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) – WikipediaStar Wars: The Old Republic (MMO) – official siteJade Empire (2005) – WikipediaMass Effect trilogy – WikipediaDragon Age: Origins – WikipediaDragon Age: The Veilguard – WikipediaMDK2 (2000) – WikipediaShattered Steel (1996) – WikipediaAnthem (2019) – WikipediaOther games mentionedBaldur’s Gate 3 – Larian StudiosElden Ring – WikipediaTears of the Kingdom – NintendoPool of Radiance (1988) – WikipediaLords of the Fallen (2023) – SteamContext and references mentionedEA Spouse – the 2004 open letter that sparked the games industry crunch debateElevation Partners – Wikipedia (private equity firm that invested in BioWare)Interplay Entertainment – Wikipedia (early publisher partner)Blizzard North – Wikipedia (developers of Diablo)Order of Canada – Wikipedia (Greg was appointed in 2018)TSR, Inc. – Wikipedia (original owners of Dungeons & Dragons)Ian M. Banks – Culture series author, WikipediaAlastair Reynolds – science fiction author, WikipediaSupport the showMy Perfect Console – episode archiveSupport My Perfect Console on PatreonBecome a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.