On October 22, 2026, the day after Electronic Arts (EA) announced the closure of BioWare, a trailer for their cancelled project titled Mass Effect: Universe surfaced on Reddit. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier confirmed the authenticity of the two-minute video, noting that it features real footage of the game the studio was working on prior to its closure.
The video, posted by a user under the nickname Random_Hyabusa_Ninja, is an early in-engine pitch cinematic created by a small team of developers. The project's concept pitched a spy thriller set in the Milky Way after the Reaper war. The clip features no Commander Shepard or gameplay footage. Instead, the story focuses on a new protagonist—a former Alliance soldier engaged in shady activities. The trailer showcases gunfights, chases, a Krogan, a betrayal in a bar, and concludes with the appearance of the franchise's famous heroine, Liara T’Soni.
The leak occurred amid a massive restructuring at EA. On October 21, the company officially closed BioWare, laying off about 400 employees, 50 of whom belonged to the Edmonton studio. EA's management explained this move as taking a "hard look at our business." In addition to the new Mass Effect, the company also cancelled the development of a new The Sims game and downsized the Skate project team. Currently, EA plans to focus on sports simulators, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and games in the Star Wars universe.
The closure of BioWare—a studio with a 30-year history that created Baldur’s Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, and Dragon Age—happened despite EA's promises last year to continue developing Mass Effect 5. Analysts link this decision to a string of financially unsuccessful studio releases, including Mass Effect: Andromeda, Anthem, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, as well as EA's recent $55 billion take-private deal.
The fan community reacted to the leak with grief, highly praising the idea of a smaller, character-driven spy story. The future of the gaming franchise itself currently remains uncertain—EA has not disclosed its plans for the license, which could either be sold or frozen. The only living project in the Mass Effect universe today is the upcoming Amazon series, which is being developed by writer Doug Jung.
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