A trailer for the highly anticipated next Mass Effect game has leaked online. The footage surfaced yesterday, just one day after EA announced the devastating shutdown of BioWare. Gamers originally caught their first glimpse of this project at The Game Awards back in 2020. Since then, fans received very little news despite multiple confirmations that the game remained in active development. Now, this new trailer leak gives players the absolute best look at what Mass Effect 5 could have been.
Mass Effect: Universe Trailer
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A Glimpse Into Mass Effect Universe
The two-minute leaked teaser reveals that the upcoming game was officially titled ‘Mass Effect Universe’. The video shows an unknown ex-military character walking into a bar. Notably, he wears the exact same coat seen in earlier 2023 teasers. Soon, an Asari approaches him. They discuss his combat history as flashbacks show him fighting Krogans alongside his squad.
The trailer then shifts to an exciting montage. It displays a Mass Effect relay in action, intense combat, and a brief romance scene. During this sequence, the new protagonist narrates that he now puts out fires before they start. The Asari quickly threatens him and claims she starts the fires. Suddenly, fan-favorite Liara T’Soni appears right behind her. Liara firmly states that stopping her is exactly why they are there. A fight instantly breaks out between the new character, Liara, and the Asari’s guards before the title screen drops.
Neither EA nor BioWare officials have commented on the leak. However, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier confirmed through sources that the footage is entirely legitimate. The trailer clearly answers a few lingering plot questions. Liara’s appearance proves the game takes place much further in the future than ‘Mass Effect 3’. Furthermore, the protagonist is a brand-new character, completely crushing fan hopes for Commander Shepard’s return. Viewers can also spot familiar alien races and one completely unknown multi-limbed creature floating in a tank.
Mass Effect 5 Trailer Unveils Stunning Upgrades & Lost Progress
The leaked video features a disclaimer stating that the assets were in pre-production. Still, developers shot the entire trailer in-engine. The character models look incredibly detailed. Moreover, the conversation in the bar highlights excellent, lifelike facial animations. This massive graphical upgrade would have certainly pleased fans after the harsh reception of ‘Mass Effect Andromeda’.
Unfortunately, BioWare’s sudden closure means all this hard work is effectively lost. EA could technically choose to revive the franchise in the future. However, unless the publisher makes a major pivot, this specific Mass Effect game is completely canceled.