Anyone hoping to bring Mass Effect back to life after BioWare‘s closure may need an enormous financial commitment. BioWare co-founder Trent Oster estimates that developing a new game capable of meeting fans’ AAA expectations could cost more than $200 million. However, he believes a smaller project could still deliver a worthwhile Mass Effect experience with the right team and a disciplined development approach.
Oster’s comments come as the #SaveMassEffect campaign continues gaining momentum following EA’s decision to close BioWare and end early development on its next Mass Effect project. Fans are urging Electronic Arts either to continue developing the franchise itself or sell or license the intellectual property (IP) to another studio. With the petition passing 300,000 signatures, the possibility of bringing the beloved sci-fi RPG series back has become a major talking point among its community.
Saving Mass Effect Could Cost Over $200 Million, Says BioWare Co-Founder
Speaking on X on November 5, 2026, Oster explained that the biggest financial challenge would be meeting the expectations of Mass Effect’s audience. Players would expect a major AAA production, which means a potential revival would require substantial upfront investment.
“Rough ballpark (based on contemporaries) is $200M+,” Oster wrote, describing the potential development cost. He added that such a large investment would require a broader business strategy to make the franchise financially viable.
His estimate is based on the budgets of comparable modern RPG projects, rather than an official development budget for the cancelled Mass Effect game. The figure also does not represent a confirmed price for purchasing the franchise rights from EA.
You can read GamesRadar’s report on Oster’s $200 million estimate and see his original November 5 post on X.
Nevertheless, Oster does not believe that a new Mass Effect game necessarily needs to cost that much. He suggested that an experienced development team with a carefully managed scope could produce a worthwhile game for less money.
He also explained that a cheaper project would need to keep things relatively simple and focus on the franchise’s most important elements. However, it would not deliver the same scale as the ambitious Mass Effect Universe concept previously envisioned by the team.
In a separate post on November 6, Oster emphasized that securing the franchise’s intellectual property rights would be a major priority. He argued that the objective should be bigger than simply producing one additional game, suggesting that fans deserve a future for the series rather than a single revival.
Read his November 6 statement on developing a cheaper Mass Effect game for his full comments.
Trent Oster Wants to Bring Original BioWare Developers Back Together
Oster has already expressed enthusiasm for the growing fan campaign. On November 4, he praised the energy surrounding #SaveMassEffect and suggested that the situation could create an opportunity for an experienced RPG development team to return to the franchise.
His comments have encouraged fans who would like to see former BioWare developers reunite and continue working on the universe they helped create. Oster’s history with the studio makes his support particularly interesting, as he was among the people responsible for building BioWare into one of the industry’s most recognizable RPG developers.
However, enthusiasm does not mean a new development studio or acquisition agreement is already in place. Oster’s comments should be viewed as an indication of interest and possible planning rather than confirmation that a Mass Effect revival is officially happening.
The biggest obstacle remains ownership of the franchise. EA controls the Mass Effect intellectual property, meaning any independent developer interested in continuing the series would need an appropriate licensing agreement or an outright acquisition of the rights.
#SaveMassEffect Petition Passes 300,000 Signatures
The #SaveMassEffect movement has attracted significant support from players following the cancellation of the next Mass Effect project. A Change.org petition created by Joe Smith has passed 300,000 signatures, demonstrating the strength of the community’s attachment to the franchise.
The petition does not simply ask EA to reverse its decision to close BioWare. Instead, it calls for the continued development of Mass Effect through one of two possible routes: EA could continue funding new games itself, or it could sell or license the franchise to another capable developer.
Both possibilities would give the series an opportunity to continue, although neither is guaranteed. An independent studio would still need sufficient funding, experienced developers, and access to the franchise’s intellectual property.
The growing campaign also reflects how strongly players identify with the original trilogy and its characters. Commander Shepard, the Normandy crew, and the choices that shaped the series remain important parts of gaming history for many fans.
EA Has Not Confirmed Whether It Will Sell the Mass Effect IP
Even with growing community support and interest from former BioWare developers, there is currently no confirmed agreement to transfer Mass Effect to another studio.
EA has not announced that it intends to sell or license the franchise. This remains a significant obstacle for anyone hoping to restart development independently, particularly if the goal is to create a full-scale AAA RPG that meets the expectations of longtime fans.
EA’s ownership of the series means that a potential buyer would need to negotiate more than just the development budget. The agreement would also need to establish the rights to use the Mass Effect universe, characters, settings, and other protected elements.
Former BioWare developers have previously discussed the possibility of EA licensing or selling dormant franchises. However, there is a difference between suggesting a potential route forward and securing the rights needed to actually develop a new game.
For now, fans will have to wait for an official response from EA before treating a possible franchise sale as a realistic development plan.
BioWare Officially Announces Its Closure and the End of Its Next Mass Effect Project
The campaign began gaining momentum after BioWare published an announcement on October 21, 2026, confirming that the studio was closing after more than three decades in the gaming industry.
The announcement also confirmed that early development on its next Mass Effect project was ending. The project was commonly referred to as Mass Effect 5, although the studio had previously discussed its broader Mass Effect Universe concept.
BioWare’s closure marked the end of an influential development studio responsible for several beloved RPG franchises, including Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect. Its impact extended far beyond individual releases, helping establish many of the storytelling and character-driven conventions associated with modern role-playing games.
For the developers and fans who followed the studio throughout its history, the announcement was particularly difficult. Many players had hoped BioWare would continue expanding the Mass Effect universe and build on the legacy of the original trilogy.
You can read the studio’s official BioWare closure announcement for more details.
Could Another Studio Successfully Revive Mass Effect?
Oster’s comments raise an important question: could another development team continue Mass Effect without the original BioWare studio?
There are examples of major gaming franchises successfully continuing under different developers. Larian Studios demonstrated what was possible with Baldur’s Gate 3 after receiving access to the Dungeons & Dragons license, while Playground Games took responsibility for bringing Microsoft’s Fable series back following the closure of Lionhead Studios.
However, Mass Effect presents its own challenges. The series has a dedicated audience with high expectations for its storytelling, character development, world-building, and player choices. A smaller production might be financially more manageable, but it would still need to capture the qualities that made the original games memorable.
A successful revival would also require experienced writers, designers, programmers, and artists who understand the franchise. Bringing former BioWare developers back together could help preserve its identity, although securing the rights and financing would remain essential.
Oster’s estimate of more than $200 million highlights the scale of the challenge, but his willingness to consider a smaller production suggests there may be alternatives to recreating the full ambition of the original Universe concept.
What Happens Next for Mass Effect?
At this point, the future of Mass Effect remains uncertain. The #SaveMassEffect campaign has demonstrated considerable community support, and Oster’s comments have introduced a potential route involving experienced developers and a more carefully managed production.
However, three major questions remain unanswered: whether EA would consider selling or licensing the IP, whether a development team could secure the necessary funding, and whether the original BioWare talent could reunite to work on a new project.
Oster’s $200 million estimate is a reality check for anyone hoping to revive the franchise, but it isn’t necessarily the final word on what a new game would cost. A smaller project could be possible with the right scope and leadership. The bigger question is whether EA is willing to give another team the opportunity to continue the Mass Effect universe.
Until EA makes its position clear, fans can continue supporting the campaign, but there is no guarantee that the petition will change the publisher’s decision.
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Saving Mass Effect Could Cost Over $200 Million, Says BioWare Co-Founder
