Months after EA officially canceled BioWare's ambitious Mass Effect: Universe, new details continue to surface about the unmade game. Composer Austin Wintory, known for his work on titles like Journey and the Banner Saga series, has revealed that he was in talks to score the project and has shared 22 minutes of unused musical concepts.
Wintory detailed his involvement in a YouTube video, explaining that he created and recorded these musical ideas with a Los Angeles orchestra last year. While the project was never finalized, his compositions were intended to capture the series' signature blend of orchestral and electronic music, with a notable emphasis on strings that Wintory felt was distinct from previous Mass Effect soundtracks. He aimed to build upon the foundational work of original trilogy composers Jack Wall and Sam Hulick.
It is important to note that Wintory was not privy to the game's specific story details. Consequently, track titles that reference Commander Shepard are conceptual rather than indicative of actual plot elements within Mass Effect: Universe. The composer provided production notes for each track, outlining his instrumentation choices and the imagined scenes that inspired his compositions.
The surfacing of these musical concepts adds another layer of wistful reflection to the Mass Effect: Universe project, which saw its plug pulled by EA despite apparent enthusiasm from the small development team. Information from former developers, collaborators, and consultants has painted a picture of a project that was generating significant creative excitement before its cancellation.