Leaked Mass Effect: Universe Trailer Appears to Reveal BioWare’s Last Game

When word of BioWare’s closure spread, fans were left puzzled. Mass Effect 5 was unveiled back in 2020, so how could it still be in “early” development five years later? A brief clip, reportedly from the project, surfaced online the following day. It appears to shed light on how far along the game really was.

What Is Mass Effect: Universe?

The footage is tied to an unannounced title called Mass Effect: Universe. It opens with a disclaimer that a small team built it from pre-production assets. Across roughly two minutes, viewers meet a new protagonist who once belonged to the same organization as Commander Shepard. He has plenty in common with the series’ earlier hero, but he does not seem to be Shepard. Liara T’Soni’s appearance suggests the story may unfold not long after the original trilogy. She is an Asari, a species famed for its extraordinarily long lifespan.

Mass Effect: Universe Trailer by u/Random_Hyabusa_Ninja in masseffect

Polygon has no way of independently confirming that the footage is genuine, but there are solid reasons to take it seriously. People said to be working on the next Mass Effect game have claimed that the team had resolved its early development troubles and was “working on a great game.” A recent LinkedIn post from an alleged EA employee also asserted that Mass Effect 5 was complete and ready to go. In addition, the clip lacks the usual telltale signs of AI-generated material, and it seems to feature voice performances from actors who have previously worked on the franchise.

The trailer packs in many of the series’ hallmarks: biotic abilities, alien races such as the Krogan, romance scenes and the interactive galaxy map. The gameplay feels familiar, yet it introduces an assortment of new close-quarters maneuvers and biotic power combinations that heighten the intensity of combat. If this is a hoax, it is an exceptionally convincing one.