'We Were Working on a Great Game' — Former Mass Effect 5 Writers Speak Out After EA Shuts Down BioWare

Upon learning that BioWare, a studio with a storied 30-year history in game development, had been shut down by EA, former writers for the cancelled Mass Effect 5 took to social media to voice their disappointment. EA announced the closure in a brief paragraph within a lengthy letter on October 21, 2026, stating that they had halted work on the project and would be closing the studio in Edmonton.

The news left gamers and staff devastated, as evidenced by responses from writers such as Catherynne M. Valente and Derek Künsken on social media.

Valente, a New York Times bestselling author, expressed her disbelief, arguing that a game industry incapable of creating a sequel to the "best game of all time" was fundamentally flawed. She clarified that she had not worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Mass Effect: Andromeda, or Anthem, asserting her independence from BioWare.

Künsken, an award-winning science fiction writer, provided more insight into his time on the project. He revealed that he had been contributing to Mass Effect 5 intermittently over the previous five years, stating that he now feels able to speak about his experiences. Künsken described working with Valente as "the most energizing, in-the-zone collaboration I've ever had" and expressed hope that the project would be salvaged, as the team had developed something remarkable.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of BioWare's IPs leaves fans hoping that EA might sell them off to another studio instead of allowing them to stagnate.