Mass Effect petition tops 52,783 signatures after BioWare shutdown

EA shut down BioWare on a Wednesday. The closure cancelled its upcoming Mass Effect game after more than 30 years of studio operation. EA still owns Mass Effect and Dragon Age. There is no indication of when or if another mainline Mass Effect will enter development.

Fan opposition organized immediately after the shutdown. The #SaveMassEffect petition launched on the day BioWare shut down. It has been adding thousands of signatures rapidly as fans mobilize online. IGN and OpenCritic both reported the petition spreading quickly after the closure.

IGN reported that the petition crossed 52,783 signatures days after BioWare’s closure, after organizers set an original goal of 30,000. OpenCritic described the petition as gaining traction online.

Organizers are not asking EA to bring BioWare back. The petition demands that EA either assign another studio to Mass Effect and fund the next game’s development, or license the IP so the franchise can continue elsewhere. IGN explained that the effort focuses on the future of the series rather than the studio itself. The petition does not seek a reinstatement of the closed studio.

A leaked trailer surfaced one day after EA announced BioWare’s closure and the game’s cancellation. The footage apparently revealed that the canceled project carried the title Mass Effect: Universe. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier verified the trailer’s authenticity.

OpenCritic described the trailer as introducing a new protagonist, showing cinematic action, and confirming Liara T’Soni’s return. The footage suggested BioWare was pursuing espionage, political intrigue, and a new protagonist in a different approach to the franchise. That approach differed from the original Mass Effect trilogy. The material appeared to be footage from early development.

Petition author Joe Smith said fans worldwide consider the series special and that EA’s decline in resources and ambiguous development plans endanger its legacy. “Mass Effect holds a special place in the hearts of millions of players worldwide,” Smith said. Smith argued that ambiguous development plans threaten the series’ future.

A former BioWare executive said a sale of the BioWare IP is more likely after the studio’s closure, though analysts disagree. Industry analyst Joost Van Dreunen said BioWare’s IP is like other divested studios. He noted that well-known IP costs too much for most purchasers. He also pointed to CD Projekt Red as busy on its own work.

Analysts disagree with the executive’s assessment.

A politician seeks Canadian government help for BioWare employees buying the studio so Mass Effect Universe development can theoretically continue. That employee buyout scenario is a long shot that would likely take years to play out. The proposal depends on government aid.

Fans are using social media in large numbers to grieve BioWare’s closure. IGN observed fans taking to social media en masse to mourn the studio. The outpouring has unfolded alongside the petition drive.

Many were already concerned about Dragon Age’s future before the closure. Some see the shutdown as the end for that series too. Game Rant reported that no mainline Mass Effect development is currently indicated.

IGN suggested the series’ spirit could live on in games like Exodus and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn even if Mass Effect never returns. The outlet made that point while discussing the fan response to BioWare’s closure.