Leaked Internal Trailer Offers Glimpse of Cancelled Mass Effect Game Following BioWare Closure
Following the closure of BioWare by EA, an internal trailer for a cancelled project titled Mass Effect Universe has surfaced online. The footage, intended for internal use by EA leadership, has been reported as authentic by Eurogamer, which cites verification from IGN and journalist Jason Schrier. The cancellation is part of a broader series of layoffs at EA that reportedly affected 400 employees, including 50 developers who were working on the Mass Effect project.
Key points
- An internal trailer for the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game has been leaked and reported as authentic.
- The game was in development at BioWare prior to the studio's closure by EA.
- EA layoffs reportedly impacted 400 employees across the company, including 50 developers assigned to the Mass Effect project.
- The trailer featured in-engine footage, including a new protagonist, a new crew, and a cameo by Liara.
- Former employees indicated the project aimed to deliver high levels of player autonomy and choice.
What happened
An internal trailer for a previously unannounced Mass Effect game, titled Mass Effect Universe, has appeared online following the closure of BioWare. The footage, which Eurogamer reports was created for EA leadership using pre-production assets, provides a glimpse into a project that featured a new protagonist, a new crew, and the return of the character Liara.
The authenticity of the trailer was initially questioned due to the prevalence of AI-generated content, but Eurogamer reports that it has been verified by IGN and corroborated by journalist Jason Schrier.
Context
The cancellation of Mass Effect Universe occurred alongside the closure of BioWare as part of a wider reduction in force at EA. Eurogamer reports that these layoffs affected 400 employees across the company, including 50 developers who were working on the Mass Effect project. The job cuts follow a $55bn leveraged buyout of EA by Saudi Arabia.
According to a former BioWare employee cited by Eurogamer, the project was designed to offer significant player autonomy and choice, drawing inspiration from titles such as Baldur's Gate 3 and The Witcher.
Why it matters
The leak provides a rare look at a cancelled project, highlighting the impact of EA's recent studio closures and layoffs on 400 employees.
What we know
- EA closed the game studio BioWare (likely, per Eurogamer).
- EA cancelled the development of a new game titled Mass Effect Universe (likely, per Eurogamer).
- An internal trailer for the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game has leaked online and is reported as authentic (likely, per Eurogamer).
- EA reportedly laid off 400 employees across the company, including 50 developers working on the Mass Effect project (likely, per Eurogamer).
How the story developed
Internal trailer for cancelled Mass Effect game surfaces
An internal trailer for the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game appeared online following the closure of BioWare.
Original source
