Entertainment · Gaming · 3 hrs ago
BioWare co-founder says a new Mass Effect could cost over $200 million
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster says a new Mass Effect game could cost over $200 million to meet fans’ expectations.
The estimate comes as EA has closed BioWare and cancelled Mass Effect 5.
Fans are campaigning for EA to keep the series going or hand it to another studio, and a petition has passed 317,000 signatures.
Oster says a disciplined team could make a good game for less, if it kept the project simple and focused on key story moments.
EA has not said whether it would sell the Mass Effect rights, which would be needed for another company to take over the series.
Oster says the series needs a broader plan to make the investment worthwhile, and fans want more than one game.
What happens next is unclear, as EA has not confirmed any plans for the series.
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster said a new Mass Effect game could cost more than $200 million to meet fans’ expectations.
Oster said the estimate reflects the scale of AAA development and that a larger plan for the franchise would be needed to justify the investment.
He said a game could be made for less with a disciplined approach and an experienced team, though it would need to keep things simple.
His comments came amid a fan campaign urging EA to continue developing Mass Effect or transfer the series to another studio.
EA has not said whether it would consider selling the Mass Effect intellectual property.
- Who
- BioWare co-founder Trent Oster gave the cost estimate; fans are campaigning to preserve the Mass Effect series.
- What
- Oster said a new game could cost more than $200 million, though he thinks it could be made for less.
- When
- Oster posted the estimate on November 5, 2026, and further comments on November 6.
- Where
- Oster made the comments on Twitter/X.
- Why
- He said fans would expect the best of AAA development and that a larger plan for the franchise would be needed to make the investment work.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Oster said he was encouraged by the energy around the #SaveMassEffect campaign.
Oster posted that a new Mass Effect game could cost more than $200 million.
Oster said a simpler game could cost less, with a disciplined approach and an experienced team.
Eurogamer published its report on Oster’s comments.
- Estimated cost
- More than $200 million
- Speaker
- Trent Oster, BioWare co-founder
- Platform
- Twitter/X
- Petition signatures
- More than 317,000
- Franchise owner
- EA
What people are saying
The scary component of Mass Effect is the audience is going to want the best of 'AAA' development.
Rough ballpark (based on contemporaries) is $200M+. That is a big number to commit up front. There has to be a bigger plan in place for the IP to make the math work.
That said, I think it can be done well for less than that amount with a disciplined approach and an experienced team.
The fans deserve more than one game.
Posts on X
The scary component of Mass Effect is the audience is going to want the best of “AAA” development. Rough ballpark (based on contemporaries) is $200M+. That is a big number to commit up front. There has to be a bigger plan in place for the IP to make the math work.