Mass Effect 5's Future in Doubt After EA Buyout, Former Manager Says
The next Mass Effect game may be in peril following Electronic Arts' massive $55 billion buyout, according to a former senior manager at the company.
Emmanuel Rosier, who spent nine years at EA and is now a director at analyst firm Newzoo, told PC Gamer that BioWare's projects are now a "biggest question mark." He noted the studio and its brands have "been struggling in recent years."
When asked directly if he believes the next Mass Effect will ever release, Rosier replied, "I will believe it when I see it." He added that new investors, who now hold EA under a leveraged buyout backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, could easily "pull the plug" on projects they deem financially unsound.
Per IGN, BioWare has been quietly developing the next Mass Effect with a small team, though it lacks a release window. The game is reportedly set hundreds of years after the original trilogy and would feature returning characters like Liara and the geth.
Rosier's comments echo concerns from other industry veterans, including former BioWare developer Mark Darrah, who previously suggested EA might sell off struggling studios under the new ownership. Analysts expect the company to focus heavily on its lucrative sports franchises and live-service shooters to service the debt from the buyout.
Eurogamer notes that the fate of single-player, story-driven games like Mass Effect appears uncertain as EA's new owners seek a return on their investment.
