‘Save Mass Effect’ effort continues with instantly successful fundraiser for more billboards near EA HQ and more
Mass Effect fans raised more than $5,700 within minutes of launching a fundraiser for new billboards urging EA to continue the franchise. The campaign shows strong community support following the reported closure of BioWare and the end of development on Mass Effect Universe, though the article’s author doubts the effort will change EA’s decision.
The organisers set a $5,200 target for mobile billboards near EA’s headquarters, its Edmonton site and The Game Awards venue in December; a billboard has also appeared in Times Square. Any extra donations are pledged to the Game Worker Hardship Fund, which supports laid-off developers in the US and Canada. A related petition has passed 250,000 signatures.
In short
- Fans raised over $5,700 for more Mass Effect billboards.
- The original $5,200 goal was met in 20 minutes.
- Extra funds will support laid-off game developers.
Explained simply
Mass Effect is a science-fiction video game series made by BioWare, a studio owned by Electronic Arts (EA). Players follow a human space officer and a crew navigating conflicts among different species and civilisations.
The series has a large fan community, and its future matters to players as well as to people who make games. BioWare has worked on other titles too, while EA decides how to fund and publish its games. Public campaigns can show how strongly people care about a series, but they do not determine what a publisher will do.