Mass Effect fans are facing an uncertain future following EA’s decision to shut down BioWare, the legendary RPG developer responsible for some of gaming’s most beloved franchises. Recently, BioWare officially confirmed that it was closing after more than 30 years, bringing development of the next Mass Effect game to an end. Many were also already concerned about the future of Dragon Age, and this could feel like the final nail in a coffin. Although EA still owns these properties, there is currently no indication of when, or even if, another mainline installment will ever enter development.
The closure represents a particularly disappointing turn of events for Mass Effect, which had been preparing for its next major installment since its announcement in 2020. A new circulating Mass Effect 5 trailer has appeared online, produced with pre-production assets, and has fans mourning its loss, too. And all of this has contributed to a new, simple demand: #SaveMassEffect.
#SaveMassEffect
A new Change.org petition called #SaveMassEffect has already received 43,861 signatures within approximately 9 hours (as of this writing), showing just how strongly fans are responding to BioWare’s closure. That’s roughly 4,873 signatures per hour. Created by Joe Smith on October 21, the petition calls on EA to reconsider the franchise’s future and ensure that Mass Effect continues in some form (beyond the Mass Effect TV show at Amazon).
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The petition presents EA with two possible ways forward. The first is to resume development of Mass Effect, providing an appropriate budget, sufficient staffing, and enough time to deliver a new game. Alternatively, the organizer suggests that EA license the franchise to another developer capable of continuing its legacy. The petition emphasizes the importance of Mass Effect’s characters, player choices, and storytelling, arguing that the series deserves to continue regardless of BioWare’s future. Fans interested in supporting the campaign can find it on Change.org under the #SaveMassEffect name or via the link above.
Support for the petition is also spreading through the Mass Effect community, particularly on Reddit, where fans have been discussing potential ways to convince EA to reconsider its decision. Some have encouraged others to share the #SaveMassEffect hashtag, contact EA, and highlight their favorite experiences from the original trilogy. Of course, a petition receiving tens of thousands of signatures doesn’t guarantee that a publisher will reverse a major business decision. There is also no indication that EA intends to sell or license the franchise, and that applies to all BioWare games like Dragon Age too.
BioWare’s closure has left an enormous hole in the RPG industry, with Mass Effect and Dragon Age now facing uncertain futures despite their enduring popularity. The rapid response to #SaveMassEffect demonstrates that demand for another entry hasn’t disappeared. Only time will tell if anything comes of this sentiment.
