Award-Winning Sci-Fi Author Reveals Role on Canceled Mass Effect

BioWare’s fifth Mass Effect entry was revealed six years ago. The project stayed in early development with a small team, so we learned very little about it, including who had been brought on to work on it.

Now that BioWare is officially closing its doors, several staff members have started to share what they did on the cancelled Mass Effect title. One of them is Derek Künsken, the author of the award-winning sci-fi novel The Quantum Magician. After the game’s cancellation and the studio’s closure were announced, Künsken disclosed that he had spent the past five years working on Mass Effect 5.

The Writers Behind Mass Effect 5 Step Forward

Künsken explained that he collaborated closely with creative director Parrish Ley and narrative director Mary DeMarle on the shelved sequel. Together with Catherynne Valente, who had previously written the series tie-in novel Mass Effect Andromeda: Annihilation, he was responsible for pitching ideas for the story, characters, lore, and science-fiction concepts.

I have a weird announcement. On and off for the last five years, as a contract writer, and as a senior writer on staff, I’ve been hoping to be allowed to say where I worked. Today I finally got the green light: I’ve been working on the next #MassEffect. 1/6

— Derek Künsken (@DerekKunsken) October 22, 2026

On social media, both Valente and Künsken voiced a mix of sorrow and pride over what they achieved at BioWare. Responding to a post about the studio’s closure, Valente said, “We were working on a great game.” It seems BioWare had assembled a talented group of writers for Mass Effect 5, with the aim of delivering a story worthy of standing beside the original trilogy.

Both authors noted that they aren’t yet sure how much they’re permitted to share about their work. They hope to eventually offer a few details about the game that might have been. That could sting for fans, since the game will never be released, but it may at least provide fresh material to fuel new Mass Effect theories.

One project that will carry on despite the end of Mass Effect as a game series is the television adaptation of the franchise, which is nearly 20 years old.