Even with the recent closure of BioWare, the original studio behind the Mass Effect series, the actors who voiced Commander Shepard remain hopeful about the franchise's future. Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, the respective voices for female and male Shepard, shared their optimism in a recent interview, emphasizing the enduring strength of the Mass Effect community.
"My first response was sadness and concern for everybody who worked at Bioware," Meer stated, reflecting on EA's decision to lay off BioWare's remaining employees, effectively ending the studio's 30-year legacy. He noted BioWare's significance as a source of pride in Canada, with fans even petitioning their government to intervene.
Hale described BioWare as "a very Canadian company" that "bucked against tradition" and moved the industry forward with its inclusive and unique approach to game development. She recalled a prior wave of sadness upon EA's acquisition of BioWare two decades ago, feeling it diminished the studio's independent spirit. The recent sale of EA to private investors, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, further diverged from what Hale considered the "original spirit of BioWare."
Despite these developments, Hale expressed a "wildly hopeful" outlook for Mass Effect's future. She envisions a scenario where EA might relinquish the intellectual property, allowing the passionate fan base and talented developers within the community to collectively own and continue the Mass Effect saga. "There's some incredible devs in this community, incredible creators," Hale remarked.
While some industry insiders speculate on EA potentially selling off BioWare's intellectual properties like Mass Effect and Dragon Age to recoup debts, others believe EA is more likely to simply discontinue projects. Regardless of EA's eventual strategy, both Hale and Meer support the #SaveMassEffect petition, which has garnered over 300,000 signatures. They do not have an official role in the campaign but acknowledge its significance in demonstrating the community's desire for more from the universe.
Meer observed the "outpouring of love for those games" as "something to behold," suggesting that the petition is a clear sign that fans are "not really ready to let this universe go."
The timing of these discussions coincides with N7 Day, the annual celebration of the Mass Effect franchise. Hale noted that the franchise has sustained itself through community engagement for years. "Nobody has switched off the light or cut off the electricity, because the community is the electricity," she said. "Maybe there's not another game itself in development at the moment, but Mass Effect has a life of its own."
Hale drew a parallel between the current trend of large corporations acquiring smaller ones to the mobile game Slither.io, suggesting that these massive entities can become too unwieldy and eventually be supplanted by smaller, more agile indie studios. She pointed to former BioWare director Casey Hudson, who co-founded Arcanaut Studios and is working on a new Star Wars game, and Archetype Entertainment, founded by several BioWare veterans and developing a game called Exodus, as examples of this shift.
Meer highlighted BioWare's legacy as its rich storytelling and memorable characters, elements that players have deeply connected with. He expressed hope that "the season for Mass Effect again" will eventually arrive, implying that the series' impact transcends the fate of its original developer.