Reviving the Mass Effect franchise could demand a budget exceeding $200 million, according to BioWare co-founder Trent Oster. This estimate is based on the expectation that fans will desire the highest caliber of "AAA" development for any new installment.
Oster stated on social media that the considerable investment reflects the audience's anticipation for top-tier production values. "Rough ballpark (based on contemporaries) is $200M+," he wrote. "That is a big number to commit up front. There has to be a bigger plan in place for the IP to make the math work."
He did, however, suggest that a less ambitious, more focused approach could reduce costs. "I think a game could be done cheaper, if you kept it simple and hit the big beats," Oster added. "It wouldn’t be what the team described in the Universe concept. The big push would be getting the IP free. The fans deserve more than one game."
These comments emerge as the #SaveMassEffect campaign gains traction, urging EA to either continue developing Mass Effect games or license the series to another studio following the closure of BioWare. The campaign's petition has surpassed 317,000 signatures. Oster has expressed support for the fan movement, indicating a desire to reunite original team members if a viable path forward emerges.
EA has not publicly responded to requests to sell or license the intellectual property. Reports have suggested that EA's decision to close BioWare was influenced by a need to choose between investing in a new Mass Effect or a new Star Wars Battlefront game, with the latter being prioritized. In response to the studio's closure, Canadian fans have appealed to their government for intervention, following a call from NDP leader Avi Lewis for federal support.