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An unnamed former BioWare developer has alleged that EA asked the Mass Effect team to remove a flag resembling the LGBTQIA+ rainbow flag from a proposal video, reportedly to avoid offense. The account was reported by GamesRadar+ and has not been independently confirmed; the source does not establish that the alleged request came from Saudi Arabia’s proposed investors.
An unnamed former BioWare developer has alleged that EA asked the team working on the next Mass Effect to remove a flag resembling the LGBTQIA+ flag from a proposal video, reportedly “so as not to cause offense.” The account, reported by GamesRadar+ from an interview with French outlet BFM, is an allegation from a former employee, not a publicly confirmed EA policy or explanation.
The developer said the video proposals were presented to new management during discussions around a proposed $55 billion EA buyout involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Affinity Partners and Silver Lake. The developer suggested BioWare’s reputation for inclusive storytelling may have contributed to management skepticism. GamesRadar+ reported that the flag was removed from one of the presented videos, but the source material does not identify who specifically made the request or provide documentation of the exchange.
The article describes the in-development game as Mass Effect: Universe, a working title for the fifth entry. It does not establish that the alleged edit changed the final game, or that the flag would have appeared in the released product. The supplied report also says BioWare closed and the game was canceled following the EA buyout; it does not provide an independent company statement or further details substantiating those developments.
The report’s headline links the alleged request to the Saudi-backed acquisition, but the developer’s reported account is narrower: it describes a change requested by EA after the new management arrived. No direct response from EA, the investors or BioWare is included in the supplied material.
What the Allegation Could Mean
The claim matters because it concerns how corporate ownership and management decisions may shape the creative work of a studio known for role-playing games with inclusive characters and stories. If accurate, the alleged removal would be an example of a pitch being adjusted over concerns about audience reaction before a game reached players.
However, the report does not establish that investors directed the change, that Saudi authorities were involved, or that the request reflected a wider policy for EA games. Keeping those distinctions clear matters: the developer’s account describes an alleged instruction at EA, while the suggested connection to the proposed owners remains part of the wider ownership context rather than a confirmed chain of direction.
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The Deal and BioWare’s Game
The reported acquisition involved a proposed $55 billion buyout of EA by a group including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and private equity firm Silver Lake. The source article says EA staff had voiced concerns during the process that new ownership could affect which projects were approved. Those concerns are not proof that any particular investor influenced this alleged edit.
BioWare has been associated with inclusive themes across franchises including Mass Effect and Dragon Age. GamesRadar+ also points to changes to The Sims packaging for Saudi Arabian audiences as a comparison, but that example does not verify what happened during the Mass Effect proposal process. The current claim rests on the former developer’s reported account to BFM.
Who Requested the Change
The account is not independently corroborated in the supplied reporting. The developer is unnamed, and the article does not provide the proposal video, internal messages, or a response from EA. It is also unclear when the alleged request occurred, which flag appeared in the video, who asked for its removal, and whether the request came from executives or another part of the company.
The source does not establish that the Saudi investors directed the change or that the alleged instruction reflected a formal policy. It also offers no details confirming the reported studio closure and cancellation beyond its own account. Those points should not be treated as verified solely on the basis of the allegation.
Whether EA Responds
The next development would be a response from EA, the investors or former BioWare staff, or the release of material that could corroborate the account. The supplied reporting does not say whether BFM or GamesRadar+ sought comment, whether EA has addressed the allegation, or whether further information is expected.
Without additional evidence, the reported request remains a former developer’s allegation. No future release date or new status for Mass Effect: Universe is provided in the source material.
Key Questions
What did the former BioWare developer allege?
The unnamed developer said EA asked the team to remove a flag resembling the LGBTQIA+ flag from a Mass Effect proposal video, reportedly “so as not to cause offense.”
Is the allegation confirmed by EA?
No EA confirmation or response appears in the supplied report. The claim is attributed to an unnamed former developer through an interview with BFM, as reported by GamesRadar+.
Did Saudi Arabia’s investors order the flag’s removal?
The report does not establish that. It places the alleged request after the arrival of new management during the proposed buyout process, but does not identify the person who made the request or show that investors directed it.
Was the flag removed from the finished game?
The account concerns a proposal video. The source does not say whether the flag would have appeared in the final game or whether its removal affected the released product.
Source: gamesradar.com
