Former EA manager doubts Mass Effect after $55bn takeover
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
A former EA manager has expressed scepticism about the future of the Mass Effect franchise following the announcement of a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, saying they will only "believe" a new instalment is happening "when I see it." The comments highlight growing uncertainty among industry figures about how EA's new ownership might affect long-running but niche franchises, particularly those without guaranteed blockbuster sales.
The former manager warned that new owners "can pull the plug very, very easily" on projects that don't fit revised commercial priorities, reflecting broader concerns about the stability of EA's creative output once the takeover completes. The remarks come amid wider industry unease about the scale of the deal and what it could mean for BioWare and other EA-owned studios responsible for narrative-driven series like Mass Effect.
- Former EA manager doubts next Mass Effect game amid $55bn acquisition
- Says they'll "believe it when I see it"
- Warns new owners "can pull the plug very, very easily"
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Electronic Arts is one of the world's largest video game publishers, and its catalogue includes long-running series such as Mass Effect, a science-fiction role-playing franchise developed by its Canadian studio BioWare. Mass Effect has a dedicated fanbase but has not always matched the sales of EA's biggest sports and shooter titles, which has periodically raised questions about how much priority the company gives it.
Earlier this year EA agreed to a takeover deal worth around $55 billion, one of the largest acquisitions in gaming history, which would see the company pass into new private ownership once regulatory approval is completed. Deals of this size typically bring scrutiny over cost-cutting, restructuring and changed investment priorities, and games companies have a track record of shelving or delaying projects after ownership changes.
This context matters because BioWare and Mass Effect have already been through periods of uncertainty in recent years, including layoffs and shifting studio priorities. Comments from former staff about the franchise's prospects are being read against this backdrop, as they speak to wider questions about how EA's smaller, narrative-driven series might fare under a new corporate structure.
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Originally published by GamesRadar+ as “Former EA manager will “believe” the next Mass Effect is happening “when I see it” after $55 billion acquisition: “They can pull the plug very, very easily””.