‘What we were cooking was really cool’: An award-winning science fiction author was working on Mass Effect 5’s story
BioWare’s Mass Effect 5 has been officially cancelled, marking the end of development on the long-awaited sequel. The cancellation comes as Electronic Arts announced it is shutting down the legendary RPG studio, which has developed some of gaming’s most acclaimed franchises over decades.
First announced six years ago, Mass Effect 5 was still in early development with only a small team when the project was terminated. While details about the game remained scarce, recent revelations from BioWare employees have shed light on the project’s scope and creative team.
Among those involved was Derek Künsken, an award-winning science fiction author best known for his novel The Quantum Magician. Künsken spent the past five years working on the game’s narrative, collaborating closely with BioWare creative director Parrish Ley and narrative director Mary DeMarle. With the cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and the closure of BioWare, Künsken and other team members have begun publicly sharing their roles in the now-defunct project.
The cancellation represents a significant loss for the gaming industry, particularly for fans of the original Mass Effect franchise. BioWare’s shutdown marks the end of an era for the legendary studio, which had produced foundational RPG experiences that shaped gaming for multiple generations.