The next Mass Effect would have had 'a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match', according to BioWare veteran

Tony de Waal, a BioWare veteran and former cinematic supervisor, revealed details about the now-canceled Mass Effect 4, stating it aimed for an unprecedented level of player autonomy and choice, surpassing games like those from Larian and CD Projekt. De Waal, who returned to BioWare in 2021 to work on Dragon Age: The Veilguard before moving to the Mass Effect project, expressed sadness over the cancellation and the studio's closure. He highlighted the immense challenges faced during the development of The Veilguard, particularly in making a variable player character work within the Frostbite engine. BioWare's closure is part of a larger restructuring at EA following its acquisition by Saudi Arabia's PIF, resulting in over 400 layoffs as EA shifts its focus to live service shooters and sports. De Waal emphasized the talent of the small team working on Mass Effect 4 and is now seeking new employment in cinematic production within the games industry.