Shepard Actor Reacts To Leaked Mass Effect Trailer, Is “Holding Hope” The Game Will Live On
EA has announced the closure of BioWare, the legendary 30-year-old developer behind iconic franchises including Mass Effect and Dragon Age, with the next Mass Effect title—Mass Effect Universe—canceled as a result. The announcement prompted immediate fan backlash, including a “Save Mass Effect” petition on Change.org that quickly accumulated over 65,000 signatures urging EA to reconsider and continue development of the franchise.
The cancellation was accompanied by the leak of a trailer for the unreleased Mass Effect Universe, which drew an emotional response from Jennifer Hale, the acclaimed voice actor who portrayed the female version of Commander Shepard across the original trilogy. Hale praised the leaked footage as “extraordinary” and expressed guarded optimism about the franchise’s future, stating: “I’m holding hope for magic to happen. This community and you incredible vevs deserve that and more.”
The studio’s closure concludes a difficult decade for BioWare, whose recent major releases—Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard—all failed to meet commercial expectations. The decision represents a significant loss for the gaming industry and highlights ongoing industry consolidation as publishers increasingly prioritize live-service models over single-player, story-driven experiences that were once BioWare’s hallmark.