Mac Walters

Mac Walters
Walters in 2011
Occupation(s)Video game writer, director
Years active2003–present
Notable workMass Effect
TitleFounder and studio head at Worlds Untold

Mac Walters is a video game developer best known for his work at BioWare as a writer on the Mass Effect series.[1]

Career

Walters joined BioWare in 2003 as a writer on Jade Empire.[2] He followed this with a senior writer on the first Mass Effect game, before becoming lead writer on the second and third entry in the series.[3] As the writing team worked on the story, Walters encouraged the team to focus more on characters, to get players invested in the events of the game.[4] Around the time of the second Mass Effect game, Walters also wrote the story for a spin-off comic called Mass Effect: Redemption.[5] In 2013, Walters was also nominated for a BAFTA award for his writing on Mass Effect 3.[6]

He briefly served as narrative director on Anthem,[7] before returning to the Mass Effect universe as creative director on Mass Effect: Andromeda.[2] As they began work on Andromeda, Walters encouraged the team to return to a creative place where "anything is possible", rather than simply making Mass Effect 4.[4] During this time, Walters also penned a novel to bridge the narrative events of the Mass Effect trilogy and Andromeda.[8] The planned fourth novel was effectively canceled, as Walters' duties as creative director of Andromeda eventually took precedence, and development has stalled for the Mass Effect film.[9] After the release of Andromeda, Walters became project director for Mass Effect Legendary Edition.[2]

Walters became the production director on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.[3] In 2023, Walters announced he was leaving BioWare after 19 years with the company.[2] In November 2023, NetEase announced the establishment of Worlds Untold, a new studio in Vancouver, Canada led by Walters.[10][11][12] In November 2024, NetEase withdrew its funding from Worlds Untold, resulting in the studio "pausing" its operations.[13]

Video games

Year Title Notes
2005 Jade Empire Writer
2007 Mass Effect Writer
2010 Mass Effect 2 Lead writer
2012 Mass Effect 3 Lead writer
2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Creative director
2019 Anthem Narrative director
2021 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Project director

References

  1. ^ Orland, Kyle (2023-01-23). "Dragon Age: Dreadwolf loses another veteran BioWare producer". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  2. ^ a b c d Bankhurst, Adam (2023-01-23). "Mass Effect Writer Mac Walters Leaves BioWare After Nearly Two Decades". IGN. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. ^ a b "Dragon Age Dreadwolf Loses Production Director As 19-Year Veteran Mac Walters Is Leaving BioWare". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  4. ^ a b "Mass Effect: Andromeda Mac Walters Interview". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  5. ^ "Mass Effect comic arrives Jan. 6". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  6. ^ Pitcher, Jenna (2013-03-06). "Journey sweeps this year's BAFTA Game awards". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  7. ^ "Mass Effect veteran Mac Walters leaves BioWare after 19 years". Eurogamer.net. 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  8. ^ "Mass Effect is getting four spin-off novels bridging the gap to Andromeda". Eurogamer.net. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  9. ^ "BioWare talks Mass Effect Andromeda squadmates, cut content and that missing release date". Eurogamer.net. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  10. ^ "NetEase Games establishes new studio Worlds Untold led by Mass Effect series writer Mac Walters". Gematsu. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  11. ^ YIN-POOLE, WESLEY (2023-11-16). "Mass Effect Writer Mac Walters Founds New Studio, Worlds Untold". IGN. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  12. ^ Andy Chalk (2023-11-16). "Mass Effect veteran Mac Walters is heading up a new studio with NetEase". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  13. ^ Phillips, Tom (27 November 2024). "Mass Effect veteran will "pause operations" at fresh AAA game studio while seeking new partner". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 27 November 2024.