“I don’t know if they will keep funding that one” - Former EA manager doesn’t believe the next Mass Effect will survive Saudi takeover

The next Mass Effect game’s future has been called into serious question following Electronic Arts’ $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal, completed this month with support from private equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, has prompted analysts and industry insiders to reassess which EA projects will survive under new ownership priorities.

Emmanuel Rosier, a former senior manager who spent nine years at EA, expressed skepticism that BioWare’s next Mass Effect installment will receive continued funding. The game has been in early development by a small team since being officially teased in 2023 but currently lacks any announced release window or clear development timeline.

Rosier’s concerns are grounded in BioWare’s recent struggles. The studio has faced challenges including post-launch difficulties with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and subsequent downsizing. Under profit-focused new ownership seeking to recoup their investment, underperforming studios with projects lacking momentum become vulnerable to cost-cutting measures. Rosier emphasized that the ownership structure makes it “very, very easy” to cancel projects like Mass Effect that lack established timelines.

The broader context suggests the new owners are expected to begin reassessing EA’s portfolio for potential divestitures or defunding of underperforming properties. For BioWare—a studio facing viability questions—and Mass Effect, a franchise in early development with no clear path to release, the stakes appear particularly high. While the project remains officially in development, its future is far from assured.

“I don’t know if they will keep funding that one” - Former EA manager doesn’t believe the next Mass Effect will survive Saudi takeover

Sources