The cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and the shutdown of BioWare have prompted former members of the project to discuss the game they had been building. Their comments suggest the team remained enthusiastic about its direction, despite claims that development was in serious turmoil.
Catherynne M. Valente, the author of Mass Effect: Andromeda – Annihilation, said she had worked as a writer on the next Mass Effect for three years. The novel is regarded by many fans as a highlight of the series, and its audiobook features Tom Taylorson, the voice of male Ryder.
Valente revealed on Twitter that the project had been one of the biggest professional challenges and privileges of her life. She said she had enjoyed the work, pushed herself for the fans and felt devastated by the game’s cancellation.
In response to criticism that the industry could not produce a worthy follow-up to one of gaming’s greatest series, Valente argued that the team had made meaningful progress. Her short reply was direct: the developers had worked out the problems and were making a strong game. IGN reported on the exchange.
“We did figure it out. We were working on a great game. Just saying.”
Valente also pushed back after someone attributed several BioWare releases to her. She clarified that she did not work on Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem or Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and said she was not the personification of the studio.
She was not the only writer to speak publicly. Derek Künsken, author of the Quantum Universe novels, confirmed he had worked on the game intermittently for five years. He said he was still seeking guidance about what could be discussed publicly.
Künsken described working with Valente on the project’s characters and lore as the most energising, focused collaboration of his career. He also said there were too many talented colleagues to name at that stage, adding that all 50 deserved recognition and support while looking for new jobs. He hoped to share more once the emotional fallout had settled.
Although the project had been announced in 2020, details remained scarce. The available teasers pointed towards a story connecting the Milky Way with the Andromeda galaxy. Liara T’Soni appeared in the first trailer, while later hints suggested a Milky Way crew might respond to a distress call from Andromeda.
The Angara, introduced in Mass Effect: Andromeda, were also shown alongside alien species from the Milky Way. That imagery implied the two galactic communities could eventually meet, giving the cancelled sequel a potentially significant role in the wider setting.
The loss of a major story-driven project is a reminder that promising ideas can disappear before players ever see them. For more coverage of games and industry developments, visit RETROCADE’s arcade news and editorial section. Readers exploring physical gaming setups can also browse the arcade machine buying guide or view available arcade machines.
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