Mass Effect: Andromeda actor says the game “was done dirty” by EA and “a very toxic atmosphere” online
Mass Effect: Andromeda, released in 2017, was BioWare’s attempt to launch a new era of the Mass Effect franchise following the conclusion of the original trilogy. The game introduced protagonist Ryder and a fresh cast of characters in a scaled-down, exploration-focused narrative set in a new galaxy. Despite high expectations, the game received mixed critical reception and disappointed commercially.
Now, nine years after launch, Tom Taylorson—the voice actor behind protagonist Scott Ryder—has spoken publicly about the game’s troubled development and reception. In an interview with fan site We Are Mass Effect, Taylorson attributed much of the game’s failure to publisher EA, saying the game “was done dirty by a publisher expecting too much from it.” He characterized the post-release experience as involving “a very toxic atmosphere” from certain online communities.
The actor’s comments address both development pressures and the harsh fan backlash that followed launch. Andromeda shipped in a notably buggy state, which compounded negative reception from audiences who felt the game failed to meet the high bar set by the original trilogy. The toxic online response, which Taylorson references, became a significant part of the game’s legacy alongside legitimate criticisms of its bugs and design choices.
However, Taylorson’s perspective reflects a broader reappraisal happening among some segments of the fanbase. While the game never recovered commercially or critically, certain players have defended Andromeda in retrospect, arguing it received an unfairly harsh reception driven partly by the gaming community’s more aggressive elements. The space exploration premise and fresh start appealed to defenders, even if the execution fell short of expectations.
With the mainline Mass Effect sequel still in development and an Amazon television adaptation in the works, conversations about Andromeda’s legacy continue to emerge.