Canceled Mass Effect game planned as a spy thriller
An internal trailer and accounts from people involved in the project describe a customizable N7 agent and missions built around player choice.
Details of Mass Effect: Universe have emerged following EA's cancellation of the game and closure of BioWare. Leaked footage and comments from people involved in the project describe plans for a space-based espionage story that would give players multiple ways to approach missions.
A trailer posted on Reddit was subsequently authenticated by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier and IGN. Created for internal viewing using pre-production assets, it features combat, a romance scene and Liara, a character from the original trilogy.
Australian YouTuber Dantics, who said he belonged to a creator group that provided BioWare with feedback, described the planned protagonist as a customizable N7 agent. An experimental implant would have allowed players to manipulate their surroundings, while individually designed missions would offer different routes to completion.
According to Dantics, the setting would show a galaxy largely rebuilt 600 years after the events of Mass Effect 3 and divided among three superpowers. He described a cold war between those powers, with a concealed adversary operating in the background. Companion disputes and romance options were also planned.
BioWare cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal separately wrote on LinkedIn that the developers sought an unprecedented degree of player freedom, citing inspiration from Larian and CD Projekt. He was among roughly 50 people remaining at BioWare when EA shut the studio.
