BioWare’s next Mass Effect game has been in development for years, with the studio keeping most details under wraps. While fans continue to question how the long-awaited sequel will turn out, one veteran developer who helped create the original games believes the current team already has everything it needs to succeed.
Armando Troisi, who worked as a cinematic designer on the original Mass Effect and lead cinematic designer on Mass Effect 2, recently discussed the upcoming game in an interview with FRVR. Rather than offering specific development advice, Troisi pointed to the experienced developers still working at BioWare and argued that they should be trusted to make the game they know how to create.
Mass Effect Veterans Still Have a Major Role at BioWare
Troisi specifically highlighted Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts and Parrish Ley as members of the original Mass Effect team who remain at BioWare. According to him, their continued involvement means there is little he could teach the current developers about building a new entry in the series.
“They know. Preston is there, and Derek is there, and Parish is there, and they’re the OGs, you know?”
Troisi told FRVR. He added that he does not believe there is much he could tell them that they do not already know.
BioWare itself confirmed in January 2025 that the next Mass Effect is being developed by a core team led by veterans of the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts and Parrish Ley. The studio also said the team was becoming more focused as development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard concluded.
For Troisi, the bigger issue is not whether BioWare still knows how to make a story-driven RPG. Instead, he believes the studio needs the freedom to use its strengths without being pushed toward ideas that do not fit its established identity.
“It’s one of those things where, if people get out of the way and let game creators just do their thing, you never know the magic that they can create,”
Troisi said. He added that developers should be trusted and encouraged to attempt something ambitious with the new game.
Troisi also described the classic BioWare formula as a combination of single-player storytelling, interactive narratives, deep combat and progression systems. In his view, that remains the studio’s strongest area, saying,
“Really, there’s nobody that can touch them.”
BioWare’s Next Mass Effect Remains in Development
The next Mass Effect was first announced at The Game Awards in 2020, but BioWare has released very little information about its gameplay or story. The studio most recently confirmed in its 2025 N7 Day update that the project remains in development, with the team focused exclusively on the new game.
Troisi’s comments therefore offer encouragement rather than new information about the game’s features. His confidence comes largely from the experienced developers still attached to the project and his belief that BioWare’s best work happens when its creators are given room to follow their vision.
For now, BioWare has not announced a release date or launch window for the next Mass Effect. The studio’s official position remains that the game is actively being developed, leaving fans waiting for the next major reveal.
