After the buyout of EA, developer BioWare has reassured fans Mass Effect 5 is still on the way, along with the planned TV adaptation.
The $55 billion acquisition of EA is loaded with many hanging concerns, but one of the key unknowns is whether it will impact the publisher’s output in any significant way.
For Dragon Age and Mass Effect fans, developer BioWare is the key worry. The studio had already announced it is working on a new Mass Effect, but after their last game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, failed to meet sales expectations, the studio was hit with a round of layoffs.
Even more job cuts are feared following the announced buyout, which is set to go through early next year, but an executive at the studio has now reaffirmed that Mass Effect 5 is still in development.
In a blog post to celebrate Mass Effect’s annual N7 day, series executive producer, Mike Gamble, addressed the concerns directly.
‘Like you, we’ve heard the rumours lately,’ the post reads. ‘You’ve made it clear you care deeply about what’s next. So let’s start by setting the record straight: the next Mass Effect game is in development, and EA and BioWare remain committed to telling more stories in this universe.
‘The truth is, the last few years have been an incredibly busy time at BioWare. But currently, the team is heads-down and focused exclusively on Mass Effect. We have a lot of universe to cover, lots of features to build, and lots of romances to figure out. We’re excited by what we’re building, and we promise you: when we’re ready, it’ll be a lot of fun to show.’
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Gamble doesn’t specify how far along development is on the next Mass Effect, but it sounds like it’s a few years away if they’re still building features. The sequel was originally announced in November 2020, and we’ve barely seen anything since aside from a short teaser trailer.
Elsewhere in the blog post, Gamble provides an update on the Mass Effect TV series underway at Amazon, implying it will have some connections to the next game.
‘Beyond the next game, there’s more to get excited about,’ he added. ‘I haven’t talked about it much, but you might have heard a little something about a TV series? We’ve been partnering closely with Amazon on it, and we’re really excited with what the talented team over there is coming up with.
‘The writers room is going strong, and we’ve got a lot figured out about how it fits within the Mass Effect canon, and where it sits in respect to the new game. The show will explore a brand-new story within the universe’s timeline, and will be set after the original trilogy. It won’t be a retread of Commander Shepard’s story – because after all… that’s YOUR story, isn’t it?’
While it’s possible things could change in the coming months, it’s a reassuring reminder that the cogs are still in motion on Mass Effect’s future. Now, we just have to hope they turn out like Mass Effect 2 rather than Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Filming on the Mass Effect TV series is slated to begin at the end of 2026, with Fast & Furious 9’s Daniel Casey set to write and executive produce.
If that wasn’t enough, fans have discovered new artwork from the next game hidden on BioWare’s website. The image, titled ‘Civil War’, depicts a krogan army, led by a particularly old variant of the species firing a chunky rifle.
It’s unclear who the lead krogan is, but fan speculation is rife that it could be an older version of Wrex from Mass Effect 2. An older krogan named Drack appeared in Mass Effect: Andromeda, but his design is notably different.
We’ve already seen a seemingly older version of Liara appear in a teaser trailer for the next Mass Effect, so it’s entirely possible more fan favourite characters could make a return.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.
For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
