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“EA never actually sells anything,” former Mass Effect 5 dev says – so don’t expect it to be saved
BioWare’s closure and the cancellation of its next Mass Effect game have left fans hoping another studio might continue the project. Former franchise technical director Romain Toutain says EA is unlikely to sell it, arguing that the company tends to shut projects down and retain their licences.
The game, reportedly titled Mass Effect Universe, was announced in 2020, and an internal trailer surfaced shortly after the closure. Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah has said EA’s approach to selling intellectual property could go either way, while a fan petition has passed 200,000 signatures and Commander Shepard actors Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer have voiced support for the series.
In short
- EA is unlikely to sell the cancelled Mass Effect project, a former developer says.
- The game was reportedly called Mass Effect Universe.
- A petition to save the series has passed 200,000 signatures.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
EA could reasonably decide that selling the project or its rights would give another studio a chance to continue a game fans still want, while bringing in revenue and reducing the cost of keeping it inactive. The petition and support from the series’ actors suggest there is an engaged audience, and a buyer might see value in reviving the franchise.
The case against
EA may reasonably prefer to retain the rights and close the project rather than sell it, especially if it judges that a deal would bring limited value or create complications for its wider plans for the franchise. Keeping control also preserves the option to revisit Mass Effect later, while a petition and public support do not by themselves establish that another studio could make the project commercially viable.
Explained simply
Mass Effect is a science-fiction role-playing game series made by BioWare, a studio owned by the US publisher Electronic Arts (EA). Players follow characters exploring a galaxy where different species and political groups face shared threats.
The series has built a large fan following, and its characters include Commander Shepard, whose voice actors are Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer. EA owns the rights to Mass Effect, so another studio would need the company’s agreement to make a new game in the series.
When a publisher closes a project, it can keep the rights and decide later whether to use them, license them or sell them. That choice matters to fans and developers because it affects whether a cancelled game or a new Mass Effect project can continue elsewhere.