Highlights
- Original trilogy veterans are leading the next Mass Effect game, promising a return to beloved franchise roots.
- Positive reception to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has sparked renewed interest in BioWare's sci-fi universe.
- Details on the new Mass Effect plot and characters remain scarce, but fans can trust the franchise is in good hands.
The next Mass Effect game will be led by trilogy veterans across several key positions on the development team. While the game is still a long way off, BioWare has slowly teased a new Mass Effect title since its initial announcement in December 2020. A beloved sci-fi franchise, Mass Effect set the stage for BioWare's modern era by introducing the dialogue wheel, a voice-acted protagonist, and leaning even further towards BioWare pillars such as memorable companions and romance.
However, much has changed since Mass Effect's release in November 2007, and BioWare's public perception hasn't been as strong as it used to be. Following the disastrous launch of Anthem, the mixed reception to Mass Effect: Andromeda, and the long wait for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, many fans are worried that BioWare will fail to replicate the success that made the Mass Effect trilogy so popular.
Mass Effect 5 Still In Production After EA Layoffs
Mass Effect 5 is still in pre-production at BioWare, despite the recent round of layoffs and project cancelations at parent company Electronic Arts.
The New Mass Effect Developers Are Original Trilogy Veterans
That being said, as explained by Michael Gamble on Twitter, the next Mass Effect game has an Executive Producer, Creative Director, Art Director, and Game Director as trilogy veterans. As the Executive Producer, Gamble is responsible for keeping BioWare's development apace, and given his most recent Twitter statement, it strongly implies that the next Mass Effect game will continue the story and vision of the original trilogy.
Given the positive reception to the remastered Mass Effect: Legendary Edition by fans and new players alike, interest in BioWare's sci-fi franchise has come back in the past few years. However, BioWare's current focus remains on finishing its development for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and releasing a worthy sequel to 2014's Game of the Year. Despite its latest string of layoffs, BioWare is expected to debut a deep dive of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf sometime in 2024.
Marc Walters, the Creative Director of the next Mass Effect game, wishes that Mass Effect: Andromeda had a sequel. Given that both galaxies were shown during the N7 Day teaser, it's quite possible that the new Mass Effect will pick up the story threads still left open from Ryder's adventure in the Heleus Cluster. However, outside of Liara's apparent involvement in the main story, or the game featuring an N7 protagonist, not much is known about the direction that the next Mass Effect will take. Fans will have to be patient for more information from the developers, but they can at least rest easy knowing that the franchise is still in familiar hands.
