Summary
- Mass Effect 5 is still happening, assures the game director.
- He reaffirms that the game is currently in pre-production.
- This comes after restructuring at BioWare saw many developers lose their jobs.
The past few days have been tough for BioWare fans. Following the launch of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which reached 1.5 million players—only half of EA’s expectations—the studio underwent a major restructuring. This led to key developers being reassigned or laid off, leaving BioWare without any writers from previous Dragon Age titles.
With the future of Dragon Age now uncertain, attention has shifted to Mass Effect 5, though optimism remains low. Despite a recent statement from the studio, some fans doubt the game will ever be released. In response, Mass Effect 5 director Michael Gamble has reassured the community that development is still underway, albeit in its early stages.
Mass Effect 5 Is Still In Pre-Production
The long-awaited sequel isn’t ready for a full team just yet
Mass Effect 5 is currently in pre-production, meaning it’s still in the early stages of development. Once this phase is complete, the team will transition into full production, where a larger workforce will likely be brought in to accelerate development. After that, the game will go through rigorous testing and pre-launch preparations before it’s ready for release.
However, fans may have a long wait ahead, especially given recent challenges at BioWare. The studio has seen significant staff reductions, and reports suggest that employees initially reassigned to other EA studios on a temporary basis have now been permanently relocated. This could further impact the timeline for Mass Effect 5’s development.
Former BioWare veteran Mark Darrah recently shed light on why the studio’s game development cycles have become significantly longer. According to Darrah, the shift began during Dragon Age: Inquisition, a project so massive that it diverted resources from Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem. This pattern continued, ultimately limiting BioWare to working on only one game at a time. As a result, developers who finish a project often find themselves without an immediate new assignment, slowing the overall production process.
With Dragon Age: The Veilguard now completed, fans eagerly await updates on Mass Effect 5, though its release timeline remains uncertain.