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Saving Mass Effect would take $200m+, says BioWare co-founder
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster estimates that a new Mass Effect game built to meet fans’ expectations could cost more than $200 million (£150 million). His comments add weight to fans’ efforts to keep the series going after EA closed BioWare and cancelled Mass Effect 5, though EA has not said whether it would sell the franchise.
Oster said a disciplined, experienced team could make a simpler game for less, but argued that the franchise needs a wider plan to justify the investment and that fans deserve more than one game. A petition calling for Mass Effect’s continued development has passed 317,000 signatures, while reports suggest EA chose to invest in a new Star Wars Battlefront project instead; EA has not confirmed those reports.
In short
- A new Mass Effect could cost more than $200 million.
- Trent Oster says a simpler game could be made for less.
- Fans’ petition to continue the series has passed 317,000 signatures.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A major investment could revive a much-loved series and give fans the substantial continuation they are asking for. Planning beyond one game could help justify the cost, build a lasting audience and make use of a valuable creative property rather than letting it go dormant.
The case against
A projected cost above $200 million makes revival a significant commercial risk, especially if meeting expectations requires more than a single game. EA may reasonably prioritise projects it believes offer stronger returns, while a smaller, disciplined team or a different use of the franchise could be more financially responsible than a large-scale relaunch.
Explained simply
Mass Effect is a science fiction role-playing game series created by BioWare, a studio known for story-led games. Players follow characters in a future where humans and other species face threats across the galaxy, making choices that can shape events.
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster helped establish the studio, while publisher Electronic Arts (EA) owns the Mass Effect franchise. The series has a large fanbase, and supporters have called for it to continue; a petition is one way they have made that case.
A major game can require a large team and substantial investment, so the cost matters to any decision about making another instalment. The franchise’s future also depends on whether EA chooses to fund a new game or pursue other plans for it.