According to IGN, BioWare franchise boss Mike Gamble used N7 Day celebrations to confirm that the next Mass Effect game remains in active development despite recent industry changes. This comes just weeks after publisher EA completed a massive $55 billion deal to go private, raising questions about the company’s commitment to specific franchises. Gamble specifically stated “EA and BioWare remain committed to telling more stories in this universe” and revealed the team is currently “heads-down and focused exclusively on Mass Effect.” He also confirmed that romantic options will definitely return, mentioning “lots of romances to figure out.” The announcement follows years of fan concerns after BioWare first teased another Mass Effect game back in 2020 with a cinematic trailer featuring an older Liara.
Damage control mode
Let’s be real here – this feels like some serious damage control. BioWare’s been through the wringer lately, between the underwhelming response to Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA’s massive $55 billion privatization deal. Fans were understandably nervous that Mass Effect might get lost in the shuffle. So Gamble basically had to come out and say “we’re still working on it, we promise!” But here’s the thing – they’re not actually showing anything concrete. It’s all “we’re excited by what we’re building” and “when we’re ready, it’ll be a lot of fun to show.” Translation: don’t expect to play this thing anytime soon.
Romance confirmation matters
Now, the romance confirmation might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually huge for Mass Effect fans. The relationships you build with characters like Garrus, Tali, and Liara became defining features of the original trilogy. Gamble specifically calling out that they have “lots of romances to figure out” tells us they understand what made the series special. And let’s be honest – people get weirdly invested in which alien they’re going to date. Will there be new species to romance? Returning favorites? The fact they’re even talking about this suggests they’re sticking close to the formula that worked.
Bigger picture shifts
What’s really interesting is how everything’s connecting. The Amazon TV adaptation is taking place after the original trilogy rather than rehashing Shepard’s story. The next game appears to be set hundreds of years after Mass Effect 3 based on that 2020 teaser with older Liara. Basically, BioWare seems to be building a cohesive future for the franchise that doesn’t step on players’ existing choices from the original games. That’s smart – nobody wants their “perfect” ending contradicted by new canon. Could the TV show and game actually tie together? It seems possible, especially if they’re building out this post-Reaper war universe.
Reality check time
Look, let’s be honest about the timeline here. BioWare first announced they were working on another Mass Effect back in 2020. We’re heading into 2026 and they’re still in the “heads-down” development phase. Gamble even acknowledged on social media that “it’s not the time… yet” to show anything substantial. Meanwhile, fans are finding hidden messages in the official blog post – because apparently “url krogan” means something? The studio’s clearly trying to keep engagement high while they work, but how long can they string people along before frustration sets in? It’s been years since that initial teaser, and we’re still looking at probably years more wait. Here’s hoping the final product justifies the extended development cycle.
