Bioware call Anthem "science fantasy" like Star Wars or Marvel. "Mass Effect is our real hardcore science fiction"

Bioware has been talking about it's Anthem game and it's very Destiny-like co-op action, and has made it clear that this isn't going to be slavishly researched super hard sci-fi. Instead this will have more of a fantasy feel.

"You see a lot of amazing things happening but we don’t worry too much about why they’re happening or how they’ve happening."

In an interview with Edmonton AM, Bioware's general manager Aaryn Flynn described the game as "a genre we call science fantasy very much like Star Wars, very much like the Marvel universe." The fantasy part comes in, he says, because, "you see a lot of amazing things happening but we don’t worry too much about why they’re happening or how they’re happening, the science of it." That's more Mass Effect's job which he describes as "more our real hardcore science fiction IP. This is much more about having fun join a game world that is lush and exotic and really sucks you in."

He also explained some more of the game's background saying "the story is that are a member of a group called the freelancers that are out there to protect and save humanity on an alien planet far away." He also expanded on some of the gameplay: "there are shooting mechanics in it, it’s an action game, it’s a role playing game. It’s got a lot of those elements to it that let you become a character and participate in this." 

And, while you can probably play it solo if you want, the studio are really doubling down on the co-op elements. "It’s cooperative, so it’s our first game in a long time that you’re going to play with your friends, natively all through the whole experience," explains Flynn. "We know there are lot of player out there who really want to play with their friends so we want to give them that."

Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.