Mass Effect: Universe details leaked following BioWare closure

Following the news that BioWare shut down and shelved its upcoming franchise entry, information regarding Mass Effect: Universe leaked online. Content creator Dantics, who reportedly participated in a community council to assist the studio, revealed several aspects of the project.

The narrative was planned to take place six centuries following the Reaper conflict. Rather than utilizing Commander Shepard, users would direct a tailored N7 operative resembling a mix of John Wick and James Bond. Furthermore, Liara was set to reappear as an influential Asari Matriarch.

The setting would feature a galactic conflict divided among three distinct alliances. One group encompassed humans, krogan, and batarians working alongside council species. The Geth functioned as an additional superpower, and links to Andromeda were included. Sources indicate an experimental bio-reaper served as the main threat, though its controller remained unidentified.

Missions were designed to be handcrafted environments offering stealth-oriented freedom of approach. Users could employ implants to manipulate surroundings, granting wall-penetrating vision, system identification, and remote hazard activation. Additionally, the experience included visceral close-range combat executions. Team dynamics reportedly involved companions occasionally arguing, generating interpersonal friction during operations.

Former cinematic lead Tony de Waal mentioned that developers previously sought design inspiration from Larian Studios and CD Projekt RED regarding user choice. These disclosures stem from an ambassador rather than official corporate announcements.