With EA shutting down BioWare, the fate of the Mass Effect franchise is now a giant question mark looming over the industry. It’s likely that EA will sit on Mass Effect for years before doing anything with the IP, if at all. There’s no way to know for sure, but the uncertainty hasn’t stopped fans from working to preserve the beloved sci-fi RPG franchise’s legacy.
Mass Effect is an important game to many people, and even gamers who haven’t played it are at least aware of its significance and the influence that it has had on the industry over the years. Although the next Mass Effect game has been canceled, fans have proved since BioWare’s shutdown that the series can live on without the developer or even EA. The franchise’s future might be clouded in a thick blanket of mystery at the moment, but the community that Mass Effect has built over the years is a solid reminder that a game’s influence and reach can still thrive long after the original studio that created it has closed.
BioWare Is Now Gone, But Mass Effect Still Has Its Reputation and Community to Keep It Alive
Ever since EA announced that the publisher chose to shut down BioWare, gamers have been taking to the internet to voice frustration, share memories of the game, and mourn the in-development Mass Effect game that will now never see the light of day. It’s been a sad few weeks, but there is still a silver lining that shows how Mass Effect won’t be a forgotten part of the industry’s history. Not much time passed before there was a petition to save Mass Effect. At the time of writing this article, that petition has amassed nearly 300,000 signatures.
Guess the games from the emojis.
The push to save Mass Effect is similar to the Destiny 3 petition that popped up earlier this year after Bungie announced post-launch updates for Destiny 2 would be ending. That particular petition currently has a whopping 411,748 signatures backing it. Destiny 2 and Mass Effect are incredibly different games, but both are clear examples of just how passionate fan communities are. These kinds of fan-led movements raise deeply compelling questions about what exactly makes a game worth preserving when the IP is likely to be shelved for good.
The community that Mass Effect has built over the years is a solid reminder that a game’s influence and reach can still thrive long after the original studio that created it has closed.
Each fan will have a slightly different reason why they think Mass Effect is a franchise worth saving and playing, but the one thing that each answer has in common is that Mass Effect is important to them in some specific way. For me, it opened my eyes to just how good in-game choice mechanics could be. Choices in Mass Effect truly matter and affect the sequels, and that blew my mind at the time. Mass Effect‘s storytelling, world-building, and emphasis on relationships made for a rich universe that was easy to get lost in, and that resonated with millions of people.
Beyond the petitions and vocal feedback that has raised awareness across social media, the fight to keep Mass Effect alive has also taken shape in other ways. The ME3Tweaks modding team reportedly plans to release a mod that will bring multiplayer to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition on November 7 (N7 Day). The mod has apparently been in the works for around three years, but EA closing BioWare and the Mass Effect cancellation make the timing even more powerful. This mod will likely have players flocking to the game to revel in multiplayer, and that is bound to bring the community even closer. Also, one of the coolest ways that players have protested is by buying ad space in Times Square, which shows just how serious the fan base is about Mass Effect.
The Mass Effect Games Clearly Hold Value Whether EA Sees It or Not
There are likely several factors that went into the decision to cancel the next Mass Effect game, but one of the biggest theories at the moment is that it’s because EA wants DICE and Respawn Entertainment to join forces on making Star Wars Battlefront 3. Before too much excitement bubbles up, I need to be clear that these are purely rumors, and EA hasn’t officially announced that its upcoming shooter project is Battlefront 3. The report comes from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, who has a solid track record, but these claims should still be met with skepticism until fully confirmed.
Even if that turns out to be the ultimate reasoning behind BioWare and Mass Effect‘s unfortunate fates, the response from fans shows just how much value there still is in the franchise. EA may not believe that it’s worth expanding into more games, but the Mass Effect IP will still continue to be an important part of gaming history. That kind of reputation can’t be taken away. A new Mass Effect game may never come to fruition, but there is at least comfort in knowing that the series continues to mean so much to so many fellow gamers.
- Released
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May 14, 2021
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
