Mass Effect 5 Unlikely To Begin Production Anytime Soon, Says Former Dragon Age Boss

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Next Mass Effect Still Several Years Away!

Story Highlight
  • The former executive producer of the Dragon Age IP states that Mass Effect 5 is still in pre-production.
  • He recently revealed that BioWare developers have moved to other EA projects since they don’t have anything else to do.
  • This will likely result in the studio’s next game coming much later than expected.

Following the not-so-successful release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and its director’s departure, BioWare has set its sights on the development of Mass Effect 5, the first new entry in this franchise since 2017’s Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Unfortunately, this much-anticipated comeback is unlikely to happen anytime soon. As revealed by a veteran developer, production on the game has yet to begin.

Why it matters: It’s not uncommon for gaming studios to work on multiple projects simultaneously so that one is ready to enter production once the other launches. BioWare itself used the same approach in the past, but the team is now working with a different mindset.

This information comes from Mark Darrah, who worked as a consultant on Dragon Age: The Veilguard. For context, Mark Darrah previously led the franchise and returned to the latest entry toward the end of development to provide notable feedback.

As per one of his recent videos, BioWare works very differently today. He explained that the team does not pursue the development of two projects at once, which has resulted in Mass Effect 5 staying in pre-production after Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released.

People who worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard; some of them are moving into other parts of EA because Mass Effect isn’t ready for them.

-Mark Darrah

He also explained that many developers from the studio shifted to other EA projects because of the delay in Mass Effect’s production.

The studio is currently attempting to figure out the direction of the IP’s upcoming release, leaving it with little need for more developers. Ultimately, this means that the game will arrive later than initially anticipated.

Mass Effect
Fans Are Hoping For A Return To Form With The Next Entry

Because the project was announced as early as 2020, fans might find the long waiting period a bit infuriating. However, BioWare seems to be in no rush, particularly after Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s commercial disappointment.

What are your thoughts on the team’s progress? When do you think the game will finally come out? Let’s discuss this in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

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