Following the closure of BioWare on October 21 and the mysterious online appearance of a trailer for the now-cancelled Mass Effect: Universe, speculation arose regarding the game's protagonist. Many fans noted a striking resemblance between the character model and MCU actor Simu Liu, star of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Further fueling these suspicions was Liu's own expressed admiration for BioWare and disappointment over the studio's closure, which he posted on Threads just hours before the trailer surfaced. Liu also shared a cryptic reaction on X, formerly Twitter, with a post that read, "… waaaaait a minute…."
In response to inquiries, Liu has now confirmed his lack of involvement. "Haha no, I wasn’t involved but you’re not the only one to ask!" Liu stated in a message provided to Kotaku. The statement suggests that either the resemblance was a coincidence, or BioWare had not yet approached Liu about a potential partnership or the use of his likeness.
The leaked trailer was reportedly intended as an internal proof-of-concept for Electronic Arts executives. Despite the cancellation of the project, fan support for the Mass Effect franchise remains evident, with a crowdfunder aimed at "Saving Mass Effect" successfully raising funds for a billboard campaign.