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IGN reports that a trailer for the next Mass Effect game was ready for release before EA canceled the project and closed BioWare’s Edmonton studio. The trailer’s existence does not establish how far the game had progressed, and EA has not publicly explained the decision beyond describing the project as early development.
A Mass Effect 5 trailer was reportedly ready for release before Electronic Arts canceled the game and announced the closure of BioWare’s Edmonton studio, according to IGN. The report adds a new detail to EA’s decision to end development of the next game in the science-fiction role-playing series, but it does not establish how much of the game had been completed.
IGN reported that the trailer’s readiness was first raised in a post on a subreddit for Austin, Texas, where BioWare also had a studio. An individual claiming to work for EA wrote that they had seen “a trailer ready for Mass Effect 5” a few months earlier and questioned how early the project was. IGN said it independently understood that a trailer had been ready for release. The alleged employee’s identity and role were not provided in the report.
EA’s memo to staff described the game as being in early development. Cam Weber, EA’s president and chief studios officer, and David Tinson, its president and COO, wrote that the company had “a small team at BioWare working on early-development for Mass Effect” before deciding not to continue. The memo said EA would close the studio and its Edmonton workspace. IGN said it had asked EA for comment.
Bloomberg reported that about 50 staff members were working on the game when EA closed the studio. The source material also says about 400 job cuts across EA were reported, equivalent to 3% of its total staff. These staffing figures are attributed reports, not details set out in EA’s quoted closure statement. BioWare’s Austin studio reportedly remains open to support other EA games in development.
A Trailer Does Not Show a Finished Game
The reported trailer offers a glimpse of how BioWare had been presenting the project internally or preparing to present it publicly. But a trailer alone cannot show how much playable content existed, whether the footage reflected final gameplay, or whether the game was near release. That distinction matters because EA’s description of the project as early development has surprised fans who have waited years for the next installment.
The cancellation also affects the developers who were working on the game and ends the current project before players could see what it might become. Former BioWare staff have described the canceled work in favorable terms, but those comments reflect their experiences and expectations; they do not verify the game’s eventual quality or scope. With the Edmonton studio closing, the immediate consequence is that this version of the next Mass Effect will not proceed under BioWare as announced.
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Six Years Since Its Announcement
BioWare announced the next Mass Effect at The Game Awards in December 2020, describing it at the time as being in “early production.” The studio’s later characterization of the project as “early development,” roughly six years after the announcement, has left fans questioning what had been accomplished. Those labels are not detailed production schedules, and the available reporting does not explain how BioWare or EA used them over time.
The decision follows the 2024 release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which the source report says did not meet EA’s sales expectations. The report also places the closure shortly before the annual N7 Day on November 7, when BioWare has previously shared Mass Effect updates. Less than a year before the closure, executive producer Mike Gamble said EA and BioWare remained committed to telling more stories in the universe. IGN reported that an Amazon television series based on the franchise was still in development at the time of its report; the series is separate from the canceled game.
“We’ve had a small team at BioWare working on early-development for Mass Effect. We’ve made the decision not to move forward with this development, which means we’re closing the studio and our Edmonton workspace.”
— EA executives Cam Weber and David Tinson, in a memo to staff
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What the Trailer Can’t Confirm
The report does not say whether the trailer was finished, approved, or scheduled for a public release, nor does it describe what the footage showed. It is also unclear how much playable material existed, what stage of development the game had reached, or whether any work could be transferred to another EA team. EA has not provided a public account of its decision beyond the staff memo quoted in the report.
The reported staff totals and the claim about the trailer rely on reporting and an anonymous or unverified online source, respectively. The source material does not establish the full number of BioWare employees affected by the closure. It also does not clarify how EA’s closure of the Edmonton studio affects BioWare’s remaining Austin operation or other projects.
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N7 Day Without a Game Update
N7 Day falls on November 7, only weeks after the cancellation report. Fans had hoped for news about the next game, but no announcement has been confirmed, and the cancellation makes a showcase for this project unlikely. Mike Gamble’s response to a user asking about next month’s event was brief and did not promise an update.
EA’s response to IGN’s request for comment, if provided, could clarify the trailer’s status, the closure, and the future of the franchise. For now, the company has said it will not move forward with the development described in its memo. IGN reported that the Amazon television adaptation remained in the works; no further details on its schedule or any future Mass Effect game are confirmed in the source material.
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Key Questions
Was a Mass Effect 5 trailer ready to be released?
IGN said it understood that a trailer was ready for release, after an individual claiming to work for EA said they had seen one months earlier. The report does not establish whether EA approved it or planned a release date.
Did EA cancel Mass Effect 5?
Yes. In a memo to staff, EA executives said the company had decided not to move forward with the game’s development.
Is BioWare closing?
EA’s memo said it was closing BioWare’s Edmonton studio and workspace. The source report says the Austin studio reportedly remains open to support other EA games.
How many people were working on the game?
Bloomberg reported that about 50 staff members were working on Mass Effect 5 when EA closed the studio. The source material does not give a confirmed count of BioWare employees affected overall.
Will there be a Mass Effect update on N7 Day?
N7 Day is scheduled for November 7, but no Mass Effect game announcement has been confirmed. Given the cancellation, a showcase for this canceled project appears unlikely, though EA has not announced what it will do for the event.
Source: fediverse
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