Following the cancellation of Mass Effect 5, reportedly titled Mass Effect Universe, and the closure of BioWare, new gameplay details have surfaced about the canceled role-playing game. These revelations include features such as handcrafted missions designed with "Hitman-style freedom" for players to approach objectives, environmental hacking capabilities, and brutal close-range executions.
These details were shared by YouTube content creator Dantics, who was part of the Mass Effect Council, a group that provided feedback to BioWare during development. IGN has verified the legitimacy of these details, with a development source indicating that "every major [alien] race" was intended to be present in the game build.
Dantics described the game as "incredible" and stated that BioWare appeared to be developing Mass Effect "for us, the fans." Set over 600 years after the Reaper War, the game would have featured a customizable protagonist with experimental technology, enabling abilities like environmental manipulation, enhanced vision, system identification, and hazard triggering. The player character would also be capable of performing "brutal, close-range executions."
The galactic setting was planned to be divided into three major factions: an alliance of humanity, Krogans, and Batarians; a council race alliance; and the Geth as a third superpower constructing megastructures. This scenario was envisioned as a "galactic Cold War" rather than another Reaper-style invasion.
Missions were intended to be handcrafted, similar to the original trilogy, but with "Hitman-style freedom in how you complete them." Squadmates were slated to have dynamic interactions, and romance options were to return without censorship. Liara, a character from the original trilogy, was set to reappear as a powerful Asari Matriarch.
The closure of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 have been met with disappointment in the gaming community. An online petition to save the franchise has reportedly garnered over 50,000 signatures, and a Canadian politician has proposed government support for a potential buyout to enable independent operation of the studio. Analysts suggest BioWare's closure was predictable for EA, with discussions ongoing regarding the potential sale of the franchise.