There’s a very good explanation as to why we are very unlikely to see EA so the Mass Effect or dragon age intellectual properties.

I saw a post on twitter from @/ defenderofD3 talking about the next steps when the petition starts to slow down. I was thinking about/researching it earlier and realized:

1M+ names isn't about changing EA's mind,it's about showing massive publishers that ME is a multi-million $ goldmine that we want bought/licensed.

That's why N7 Day Lets Play, billboards, &spamming EA social media and events with #SAVEMASSEFFECT matter.

This is a multi-layered campaign. #Holdtheline #SaveMassEffect

The old BioWare made some of the best games ever made. I was a fanboy since Neverwinter nights came out. I am grateful the corpse that was resurrected was put down before they can desecrate Mass effect and turn it into a shambling horror like their last game. Sometimes death is better, sometimes death is better

Like a lot of you, I'm pretty gutted about BioWare closing and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect. I've been a fan since the original trilogy, and while I've felt for a while that the BioWare we knew and loved was already gone, seeing that leaked Mass Effect Universe trailer really stung.

There was so much promise there. The return of Liara, what looked like a new N7 protagonist, and combat that seemed to build on the fluidity of Andromeda and Anthem. Most importantly, it looked like we were finally moving beyond Shepard while still exploring the universe and the consequences of everything that happened in the original trilogy.

Shepard's story is over. That doesn't mean the universe's story is.

Now, with the petition to save Mass Effect surpassing 200,000 signatures, I've been thinking about what a realistic path forward might actually look like.

Expanse was saved after a fan campaign that gathered roughly 130,000 signatures, with Jeff Bezos reportedly being a fan himself. Obviously, saving a television show and resurrecting a AAA game franchise are two very different propositions, but it's an interesting comparison.

And here's another interesting connection...the live-action Mass Effect series is still reportedly moving forward at Amazon, and that got me thinking.

I've seen plenty of people suggesting Larian or CD Projekt Red should take over Mass Effect, and while I'd love to see what either studio could do with the IP, I'm not convinced they're the most practical options.

CDPR has demonstrated an incredible ability to build immersive worlds with complex narratives and meaningful choices. But they're already committed to major projects of their own. Adding Mass Effect to that workload would be an enormous undertaking.

Larian is another phenomenal studio, but personally, I think they'd be a better fit for Dragon Age. Origins was built around tactical, party-based combat, deep character interactions, and consequential choices. That's much closer to Larian's wheelhouse. They're also busy developing their own projects.

Even if either studio wanted the IP, we'd potentially be looking at another decade before seeing anything substantial.

Which brings me to Archetype Entertainment: For those of you who don't ever open any of these discussions and just happened to click this one, Archetype is the studio developing EXODUS, an upcoming science-fiction RPG with some serious OG BioWare talent behind it, including James Ohlen and Drew Karpyshyn. Of all the studios I can think of, Archetype seems like one of the most natural creative fits for Mass Effect. But there are two pretty significant caveats.

1. Would they even want to return to Mass Effect?

These developers have moved on. They're building their own universe with EXODUS, and I imagine there's something incredibly appealing about creating something new without the expectations and baggage of an established franchise.

As much as I'd love to see them return, I wouldn't blame them for wanting to leave Mass Effect in their past.

1. Could they realistically afford the IP?

Archetype is part of Wizards of the Coast, which is owned by Hasbro. So they do have corporate backing, but that doesn't necessarily mean Hasbro would be interested in purchasing or licensing Mass Effect from EA.

And why invest heavily in someone else's IP when you're already funding a potentially successful new franchise of your own?

That said, I think licensing is a much more realistic possibility than an outright purchase.

Which brings me back to Amazon. They already has a vested interest in Mass Effect through its upcoming television adaptation. If that series succeeds, there's potentially a business case for expanding the franchise across multiple forms of media. This is the window and what we all need to be hoping for. The Mass Effect show needs success similar to that of Fallout.

This opens up some combination of EA retaining the IP, Amazon providing financial backing, and a studio like Archetype handling development actually work?

I have no idea. There are undoubtedly contractual, financial, and logistical hurdles I'm not accounting for. I'm also not suggesting that any of these companies are currently discussing such an arrangement, but it seems like a more realistic conversation than simply hoping EA hands the franchise to whichever developer we like most.

And honestly, if EXODUS turns out to be everything we're hoping for, maybe Archetype would be better off continuing to build its own universe.

I'm torn on that one.

I just hate the thought of Mass Effect ending here, especially after seeing the potential in that leaked trailer. There's still so much of this universe left to explore, and I don't think we need Shepard back to tell compelling stories in it.

So I'm curious what everyone thinks.

Is Archetype a realistic candidate, or would its connection to Hasbro and commitment to EXODUS make that unlikely? Could Amazon's involvement with the television series open a door for the games? Is there another studio or arrangement that makes more sense?

Or is the best thing we can hope for that EXODUS captures the spirit of what made BioWare special in the first place?

I'd genuinely love to hear everyone's thoughts.

To be honest EA Games doing this to BioWare is really sad I've always wanted to play Mass Effect when I was 8 years old on my Xbox 360 now that I actually finally get to play it on Steam I am really in love with the game especially Tali and Liara 😍

Things said I have a feeling we're not going to be able to play Mass Effect anymore because EA Games owns the IP so I have a feeling it's going to get removed from online stores especially Steam and epic games so you guys better go buy Mass Effect on Steam and other digital stores before it happens because this is my prediction with that being said this is very sad and we were going to get a new game of Mass Effect hopefully bioware can get their own studio and make the game still

How would everyone feel if the original devs working on game started a new company and kickstarter to buy back rights of mass effect and dragon age and finish mass effect 5? Or maybe even a petition for another company to pick them up and buy back rights to franchises? We have known EA is greedy so maybe if we all start speaking that language we can save what's left of Bioware.

Is that something anyone would donate to or help fund? If anyone with deep wallets is reading this, is that something you would consider investing in?

I mean we kinda have a chance to either bring Bioware back to its original glory or all go down on flames with it. I just know mass effect scratches an itch for some scifi fans more than anything else out there similar to stargate and firefly that really have no where else to go for similar future content. Dragon age as well, so if we could get them back on track as a community I feel like it's worth doing. Idk just something I thought up watching all the interviews and new coverage of it.

Hey all there is another petition that is focused of saving BioWare Dragon Age and Mass Effect! Please do not donate to change.org just sign up and show your support! I want a remake of Dragon Age Origins and the rest of the series! EA can’t afford not to sell BioWare with them in 18 billion in debt and $1.8 billion on interest payments due this year.

title is self explaining, but let's face it we are millions of being fans of those licences, if each of us gives a few bucks that could maybe reach something big enough to make it happen ?