Developers of The Expanse RPG back #SaveMassEffect campaign following studio closure

The movement to save the Mass Effect franchise has gained support from an unexpected corner: the developers behind the Mass Effect-inspired RPG, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. As reported by GamesRadar+, Owlcat Games officially backed the #SaveMassEffect initiative, drawing a direct parallel to how fan intervention famously rescued the television adaptation of The Expanse.

This show of support comes in the wake of the recent announcement that BioWare is closing down, resulting in the cancellation of the next entry in the Mass Effect series. Following the news, which coincided with a leaked trailer for a project titled Mass Effect Universe, fan outrage intensified. A petition aimed at saving the beloved RPG franchise has already surpassed 210,000 signatures.

Drawing from their own history with the sci-fi franchise, the team behind The Expanse: Osiris Reborn posted on Twitter that, “The Expanse show was saved by fans in the past. So the #SaveMassEffect movement has our full support.” The television series was originally canceled by Syfy in 2015 before an massive fan campaign led to Amazon Prime Video picking it up for its final three seasons.

The outlook from industry insiders

Despite the passion driving the movement, industry insiders remain skeptical about the chances of success. As noted by GamesRadar+, Romain Toutain, who served as technical director for the now-canceled Mass Effect 5, expressed doubt regarding the potential for a revival. Toutain stated that “EA never actually sells anything,” noting a historical trend of the publisher shutting down studios and sitting on intellectual properties rather than allowing them to be continued or sold elsewhere.

This pattern has left a long list of dormant franchises in its wake, including Command and Conquer, Dungeon Keeper, and Dead Space. Toutain also referenced American McGee’s struggles with the Alice series, where the creator stated that EA had no interest in continuing that franchise, further dampening hopes that fan petitions alone can force a corporate change in direction.

Why it matters

For players, the closure of BioWare represents the end of a legendary era in RPG development. The #SaveMassEffect movement serves as a litmus test for whether concentrated player pressure can influence corporate strategy regarding dormant IP. For those invested in the series, the immediate impact is the loss of the next installment and the uncertain future of a franchise that has defined the sci-fi RPG genre for years.

While the petition highlights deep community engagement, the perspective from former developers suggests that the hurdle is more structural than a lack of interest. Players should keep an eye on official communications from EA regarding its massive library of inactive licenses, as the current stance indicates a preference for holding onto these brands rather than offloading them to developers who might be willing to pick them back up.