A trailer for Mass Effect 5 meant for internal purposes at BioWare has leaked online, offering a glimpse at what might have been.
The trailer was created for EA leadership last year and was not meant for the public. It appeared on Reddit just a day after EA's shock cancelation of Mass Effect 5 and the closure of its developer, BioWare.
The trailer begins with a message noting it is in-engine footage using pre-production assets, and ends with the title 'Mass Effect: Universe.' It remains unclear if this would have been the final name of the game.
The footage features familiar elements including weaponry, powers, alien species, a Mass Effect relay, space travel, a nightclub, and a shipboard galaxy map.
Players would have assumed the role of a former military operative in a new line of work focused on stopping conflicts early. An older Liara T'Soni appears to assist the player character during a bar fight.
BioWare had spent years teasing the next installment's setting, confirming it would be set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3 and re-center the action in the original Milky Way setting following the defeat of the Reapers.
Liara's return was previously teased, alongside the expected return of the geth, Andromeda races, romance options, and the Paragon/Renegade system.
Following the cancelation announcement, former developers commented on the project. Bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente stated on social media that the team was indeed working on a great game.
Former cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal noted on professional networks that Mass Effect 5 would have offered players a high level of autonomy and choice.
Development efforts drew inspiration from recent offerings by studios like Larian and CD Projekt to elevate the franchise while respecting the original trilogy.
Developers expressed sadness that the public will not see the project they were building and praised the dedication of the remaining team members.
Reports indicated a public-facing trailer was ready before EA decided to cancel the game and shut down the studio.
The cancelation was formally communicated in an internal memo from EA executives.
The memo confirmed that the small team working on early development for Mass Effect would be disbanded, leading to the closure of the studio and its workspace.
The characterization of the project as being in early development surprised fans given its initial announcement at The Game Awards in December 2020.
According to reports, approximately 50 staff members were working on Mass Effect 5 at the time of closure, amid broader layoffs affecting three percent of total staff at EA following the commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
The closure occurs shortly before the annual N7 Day celebration on November 7, a date previously used by executive producer Mike Gamble to share development updates.
Fans who anticipated updates on N7 Day now expect the milestone to pass quietly.
Industry reactions to BioWare's closure continue to emerge alongside discussions regarding the future of the studio's major franchises.
