Leaked ‘Mass Effect: Universe’ Trailer Emerges After EA Closes BioWare

Tena Milakovic
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For nearly two decades, ‘Mass Effect’ has captivated gamers with its rich science fiction narrative, memorable characters, and impactful choices, making this week’s news particularly hard for fans to digest.

On Wednesday, October 21, Electronic Arts announced the closure of BioWare, the studio behind ‘Mass Effect’ and ‘Dragon Age’, effectively halting development on the next ‘Mass Effect’ installment. BioWare confirmed in a statement that “BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project is ending.”

However, less than 24 hours later, an unexpected development occurred. A trailer for the now-cancelled project, reportedly named ‘Mass Effect: Universe’, surfaced on the ‘Mass Effect’ subreddit, quickly garnering significant attention across social media platforms.

The video, uploaded by an anonymous account claiming to be associated with BioWare, begins with a disclaimer indicating that the footage is in-engine material created by a small team using pre-production assets. The trailer runs for about two minutes and features cinematic scenes without any gameplay.

These scenes depict a group of apparent spies capturing a target, leading to an explosive bar fight, with a new protagonist at the center. Liara T’Soni makes an appearance as an ally, hinting at a romantic subplot, and the trailer concludes with the title ‘Mass Effect: Universe’ and the phrase “Coming Soon.”

The authenticity of the trailer remains uncertain. EA has neither confirmed nor denied its legitimacy, and due to its anonymous upload, there is a possibility it could be a fabrication. However, several outlets have suggested it appears genuine and not AI-generated, with a post from Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, implying its authenticity.

An alleged EA employee had previously claimed on Reddit that a trailer for the new game had been ready for several months, a statement that IGN reportedly backed up. While these details lend credibility to the leak, it remains unverified until EA provides an official statement.

The leaked trailer is particularly poignant given the project’s history. The next ‘Mass Effect’ game was first teased at The Game Awards in 2020, and as recently as November 2025, BioWare reassured fans that it was still in development. Reports indicated that the team had dwindled to about 50 members, with EA describing it as a small team in early development.

Earlier teasers hinted at a storyline set approximately 300 years after ‘Mass Effect 3’, featuring Liara’s return and the inclusion of species like the Geth. The release of a polished cinematic following the cancellation has intensified the sense of loss for many fans.

This closure is part of a larger restructuring at EA, which will see around 400 jobs cut, roughly 3% of the company’s workforce, including about 50 at BioWare, according to Bloomberg. EA is also shutting down BioWare’s Edmonton studio and has cancelled a planned ‘Sims’ project codenamed Project Lotus, while continuing to focus on sports games, ‘Apex Legends’, ‘Battlefield’, the next ‘Star Wars Jedi’ game, and an ‘Iron Man’ title.

The timing of these developments is noteworthy, occurring just two months after EA’s sale to private investors led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was finalized, a deal that had already raised concerns about potential closures and layoffs.

Additionally, this news brings up questions regarding Amazon’s planned ‘Mass Effect’ series for Prime Video. There has been no official announcement regarding the show’s cancellation, and reports indicate that it remains in production despite the studio’s closure, although Amazon has not publicly clarified the implications of the shutdown.

There is a glimmer of hope for the franchise, as a BioWare executive has reportedly stated that EA is more inclined to sell the licenses for ‘Mass Effect’ and ‘Dragon Age’, which could potentially allow for a revival under new ownership.

For now, the leaked trailer provides a bittersweet glimpse of a game that may never come to fruition. Regardless of whether the footage is officially validated, it has already given fans a final look at the direction BioWare was pursuing.

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