The future of Mass Effect faces another financial hurdle following BioWare’s closure and the cancellation of its next instalment. While fans are campaigning for Electronic Arts (EA) to revive the franchise or transfer its rights to another developer, BioWare co-founder Trent Oster believes bringing back the series could require more than $200 million.
Oster recently expressed support for the growing #SaveMassEffect movement, but his comments also highlighted the financial challenges involved in developing another major entry. According to the veteran developer, fans would expect the next Mass Effect game to meet the production standards of a modern AAA release, making it difficult for a smaller studio to take over the franchise without substantial funding.
Trent Oster Puts a $200 Million Price Tag on Saving Mass Effect
Responding to the campaign on X, Oster explained that the franchise’s audience would expect an exceptionally polished production.
“The scary component of Mass Effect is the audience is going to want the best of ‘AAA’ development,”
Oster wrote. He estimated that a project of this scale could cost “$200M+” based on comparable games.
He also warned that committing such a large amount upfront would require a broader business strategy to make the investment financially sustainable.
Oster, however, does not believe that $200 million is necessarily the minimum required to bring the franchise back. He suggested that a smaller budget could work if the project were handled by an experienced team with a more controlled development strategy.
“That said, I think it can be done well for less than that amount with a disciplined approach and an experienced team,”
he added.
His comments offer some hope to supporters who want another developer to continue the series. However, the challenge extends beyond production costs, as EA still owns the Mass Effect intellectual property and would need to agree to a sale or licensing arrangement.
#SaveMassEffect Petition Crosses 300,000 Signatures
The discussion surrounding the franchise’s future has gained momentum through the #SaveMassEffect campaign. A Change.org petition is calling on EA to either continue funding new games or sell or license the intellectual property to another studio.
The petition has surpassed 300,000 verified signatures, demonstrating the continued interest in the franchise following BioWare’s closure.
BioWare officially announced on October 21, 2026, that the studio was closing and early development on its next Mass Effect project was ending.
Former BioWare developers and industry figures have also discussed the possibility of allowing another team to continue the franchise. However, EA has not announced any plans to sell or license the IP.
For now, Oster’s comments highlight the financial commitment required to meet expectations for another major Mass Effect RPG. Even with hundreds of thousands of fans supporting its return, finding a developer with the necessary funding, experience, and resources remains a significant challenge.
