The next installment in BioWare's Mass Effect series, which was officially cancelled following EA's decision to shut down the studio, was envisioned to offer a "level of autonomy and choice" that could rival top-tier RPGs from studios like Larian and CD Projekt. This ambition was shared by Tony de Waal, a former cinematic supervisor at BioWare, who revealed details about the project in a LinkedIn post.
De Waal stated that he was among the approximately 50 remaining BioWare staff who were let go as part of the studio's closure. He expressed sadness that players would never see the game they were developing, describing it as "something special" with an unprecedented degree of player agency. He noted that the team was actively observing the success of games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 and aimed to elevate the Mass Effect franchise while remaining faithful to the original trilogy's spirit.
Other writers who worked on the project, including Catherynne M. Valente and Derek Künsken, also conveyed their excitement about the game's early development in separate social media posts. While the game was in its early stages, its cancellation represents a missed opportunity for BioWare to potentially reclaim its status as a premier RPG developer.
BioWare's recent history has been marked by mixed critical reception and developmental challenges. Mass Effect: Andromeda, released in 2017, did not achieve the same level of acclaim as the original trilogy. Anthem, a live-service title, struggled to find its footing despite some promising elements. Dragon Age: The Veilguard, formerly known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, underwent a reportedly turbulent development cycle, shifting between multiplayer and single-player focus under EA's direction. While the final product was described as a "compelling, heartfelt action adventure," it did not meet EA's sales expectations, reportedly contributing to the subsequent decision regarding BioWare's future.
The closure of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 underscore a broader trend in the industry, where studios under large publishers often face pressure to deliver short-term financial gains, sometimes at the expense of ambitious, long-term projects. The loss of the studio and its potential future titles marks a significant moment for the RPG genre.