After news of BioWare's closure broke, fans were confused: how could Mass Effect 5 still be in "early" development if it was announced five years ago, in 2020? The next day, a short clip allegedly from the project leaked online, and it seems to answer the question of where Mass Effect 5's development progress actually stood. The footage refers to an unannounced title called Mass Effect: Universe, and begins with a warning that it was made with pre-production assets by a small team.
Over the course of about two minutes, we are introduced to a new protagonist who was once a part of the same organization as Commander Shepard. Though the character shares many similarities with the previous series protagonist, he does not appear to actually be Commander Shepard. Judging by the inclusion of Liara T'Soni, this game might take place not long after the original trilogy.
She's an Asari, after all, and they are an alien species known for their long life spans. Though Polygon cannot independently verify the authenticity of this footage, there's good reason to believe it is real. For one thing, people reportedly on the team for the next Mass Effect game claimed that they had overcome early development issues and were "working on a great game." A recent LinkedIn post featured an alleged EA employee stating Mass Effect 5 was finished and ready.
The new footage lacks the typical markers of AI-generated content and appears to include voice work from actors who previously worked on the series. The trailer features many of Mass Effect's characteristic traits: biotic powers, alien races like the Krogan, romance scenes, and the interactive galaxy map. Though the gameplay seems familiar, this title includes a variety of new close-quarters moves and biotic power combos that raise the intensity of the action.
If this is a hoax, it's a highly convincing one.
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