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We might never get to play the next Mass Effect game, but now we have a better idea of what BioWare was working on. A trailer for Mass Effect: Universe has leaked online, just one day after EA announced the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of its next Mass Effect project.
And yes, the footage is real. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier confirmed that the trailer came from the game BioWare was developing before the studio's closure.
What Does the Mass Effect: Universe Trailer Show?
The roughly two-minute trailer gives us a glimpse of a sci-fi adventure that feels familiar to fans of the original trilogy. It features a new male protagonist, an encounter with an Asari, and the return of fan-favourite character Liara T'Soni.
There are also brief action sequences and glimpses of different locations across the Mass Effect universe. The footage appears to hint at a more focused, spy thriller-style story, although it's too early to know exactly how the finished game would have played.
There's one important detail to keep in mind, though. The trailer uses in-engine footage and pre-production assets. This wasn't a finished game ready to launch, but an early look at what the team had been building.
Why Was the Next Mass Effect Game Cancelled?
On October 21, EA announced that BioWare would close and that development on the next Mass Effect project would not continue. According to the company's announcement, only a small team had been working on the game during its early development.
BioWare spent more than 30 years creating some well-known RPGs, including Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The closure marks the end of an important chapter for a studio that helped shape the genre.
The timing makes the leaked trailer especially difficult for fans. It offers a glimpse of a project that was still being developed shortly before its cancellation, leaving plenty of questions about what the final game might have become.
Is Mass Effect: Universe Ever Coming Out?
Unfortunately, there's no indication that this particular project will be released. EA has said development is ending, and the trailer doesn't change that decision. It shows what BioWare was working on, not an upcoming game that players can expect to buy.
That doesn't necessarily mean the Mass Effect universe is gone forever. But for now, Mass Effect: Universe is a look at what could have been rather than a game to look forward to.
Would you have liked to play this version of Mass Effect? Let us know what you think.
Video no longer available. The leaked footage has been removed and is not being redistributed.
Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
