Mass Effect revival petition tops 214,000 as actors back fans’ campaign
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
The #SaveMassEffect petition has passed 214,000 signatures, with Commander Shepard voice actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer backing the campaign. Fans have also paid for a Times Square billboard, while developers of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn have voiced support, adding to pressure for the series to continue.
The campaign follows the cancellation of an upcoming Mass Effect game and EA’s closure of BioWare last week, with layoffs affecting the remaining staff. Leaked footage and details shared by a YouTuber who advised on the project helped galvanise fans, but it is unclear whether EA will respond or the franchise will find a future under another owner.
- Sources
- 3
- Outlets
- 3
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Petition passes 214,000 signatures.
- Shepard actors support the campaign.
- Fans seek a future for the series.
How this story developed
- 1 hour ago A former developer was also reported to have leaked footage of the cancelled project, adding to the details already shared by the adviser, while EA’s response and the franchise’s prospects under another owner remained uncertain.
- 1 hour ago The campaign gained further context as reports said EA had closed BioWare the previous week, with layoffs affecting remaining staff, while leaked footage and details from a YouTuber who advised on the game helped galvanise fans.
- 2 hours ago More than 214,000 people signed a petition to save Mass Effect after a new game was cancelled and BioWare reportedly closed, with voice actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, a Times Square billboard and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn developers backing the campaign.
- Push Square Save Mass Effect Petition Rockets Past 200,000 Signatures as Fans Ask EA to Continue the Series
- Destructoid Mass Effect revival petition tops 214,000 as actors back fans’ campaign
- Rock Paper Shotgun 220,000-signatory petition to "save Mass Effect" doesn't mention BioWare, suggests giving Mass Effect 5 to somebody else
Full account
A fan campaign urging Electronic Arts to continue the Mass Effect series has gathered more than 200,000 signatures, after the closure of BioWare and cancellation of its next game. Destructoid reported the petition had passed 214,000 signatures, while Push Square described it as having exceeded 200,000. The totals reflect reports at different points in the campaign’s growth.
The Change.org appeal, titled #SaveMassEffect, asks EA to commit resources to another instalment or license the property to a different studio. Its argument is that either route could keep the series going and protect its legacy. The petition’s organisers frame the issue as a call for the franchise to have a future, rather than a demand that EA reverse the decision to close BioWare.
The campaign has drawn support from Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, who voiced the female and male versions of Commander Shepard. Meer publicly backed the effort. Fans have also taken the campaign beyond the petition: one supporter arranged for a #SaveMassEffect message to appear on a Times Square billboard, and the developers of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a forthcoming science-fiction role-playing game described as influenced by Mass Effect, voiced support online.
The push has followed a burst of attention around the cancelled project, which was reportedly known as Mass Effect: Universe. Destructoid also noted that footage from development had appeared online and that a YouTube creator who had taken part in a feedback group shared details about the game. Those disclosures helped renew discussion of what had been lost, while the petition and public displays gave fans a way to press for a different outcome.
There is no indication in either report that EA has responded to the petition or plans to revive the series. Destructoid highlights the breadth of fan and industry support, while its writer personally suggests EA could sell the intellectual property to another company. Push Square takes a more sceptical view: it questions whether EA would invest in the franchise after closing its developer and argues that the mixed reception to Mass Effect: Andromeda may have weakened the brand. Its article also notes that some fans would prefer the series to remain finished, pointing to upcoming games such as The Expanse: Osiris Reborn as possible spiritual successors.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Destructoid gives the higher signature count, reporting more than 214,000, and focuses on the campaign’s visible support: the Shepard actors, Times Square billboard and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn team. Push Square reports the petition had passed 200,000 and explains its two proposed routes for continuation: new investment from EA or licensing the property to another studio.
The outlets differ in tone about the prospects of success. Destructoid’s writer expresses hope that EA might sell the franchise to a company that would continue it. Push Square is more doubtful that EA will invest after BioWare’s closure, citing cost-cutting and the damage it believes Mass Effect: Andromeda did to the series’ appeal. Push Square also includes a reader’s view that the franchise could be left as it is.
Explained simply
Mass Effect is a science-fiction role-playing game series made by BioWare, in which players guide Commander Shepard and a crew through conflicts involving different alien species and the fate of the galaxy. The games are published by Electronic Arts (EA), which owns the franchise.
The campaign reflects concern among fans about the series’ future after plans for another game were cancelled and reports emerged of BioWare closing and staff losing their jobs. Its outcome matters to people who want the story and games to continue, but any future would depend on decisions by EA or a potential new owner.
Coverage · 3 sources
- DestructoidMass Effect revival petition tops 214,000 as actors back fans’ campaign
- Push SquareSave Mass Effect Petition Rockets Past 200,000 Signatures as Fans Ask EA to Continue the Series
- Rock Paper Shotgun220,000-signatory petition to "save Mass Effect" doesn't mention BioWare, suggests giving Mass Effect 5 to somebody else
Celebrity Entertainment Gaming
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Destructoid as “A galaxy united: ‘Save Mass Effect’ movement gains traction with petition, Shepard voice actors’ support, and more”.