Electronic Arts’ decision to shut down BioWare and cancel the next Mass Effect game has sparked a major fan campaign. A petition created on Change.org under the title Save Mass Effect has surpassed 200,000 signatures, bringing together players asking the publisher to find a way to ensure the sci-fi series continues.

What the Meaning of the Campaign

The campaign gained peak after EA’s announcement last Thursday (22), when the company confirmed the closure of BioWare, the studio also responsible for Dragon Age, as well as the cancellation of the next Mass Effect entry. The project had been announced in 2020 and remained in development for several years, although very little concrete information about its story, gameplay, or release window was ever revealed.

Created by a user named Joe Smith, the petition asks Electronic Arts to commit to the future of the franchise by providing enough funding, staff, and development time for a new game to meet fans’ expectations. If the company has no interest in continuing to develop titles in the series, the organizers argue that the IP should be licensed to another studio. The objective is to allow Mass Effect continue outside EA’s internal structure.

In the campaign description, the organizers highlight the importance of the universe created by BioWare, particularly the story of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew, characters who helped establish the franchise as one of the most recognizable names in sci-fi RPGs.

Last Word on the Future of Mass Effect After BioWare’s Closure

The situation marks a major shift from the position Electronic Arts had maintained until fairly recently. In 2025, BioWare went through staff reductions following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but the company justified the cuts by saying the team working on the next Mass Effect did not require the studio’s full workforce.

During that same period, BioWare representatives had sought to reassure fans, emphasizing that the new game was still in development despite uncertainty surrounding Electronic Arts’ broader corporate future.

However, the restructuring announced last week changed that outlook. In a message sent to employees, EA indicated that its investments would be focused on franchises such as Battlefield and Apex Legends, alongside sports titles and action-adventure projects, including the next Star Wars Jedi game and Motive’s Iron Man title.

The reorganization also affected other teams within the company, including Full Circle, the studio behind Skate, which also saw staff cuts.

Although the campaign has reached an impressive number of signatures, there is currently no indication that Electronic Arts plans to reconsider the cancellation of Mass Effect. The petition also has no binding effect on the company’s decisions.