Why BioWare has officially stopped working on everything except Mass Effect 5
BioWare is done juggling. Former executive producer Mark Darrah has confirmed a major structural shift at the studio: the days of splitting resources between multiple blockbusters are over.
For the first time in decades, the developer is focusing 100% of its energy on a single title—Mass Effect 5.
Mass Effect 5 Becomes Sole Focus
For years, BioWare operated as a multi-project machine. Titles like Dragon Age: Origins, Sonic Chronicles, and the original Mass Effect were all in production simultaneously. In a recent interview with Destin Legarie, according to Darrah, this often led to internal friction.
Teams would fight for resources, “elbowing each other” and causing unintended consequences for development cycles. That era has ended.
“As near as I can tell, 100% of what they’re working on right now is Mass Effect,” Darrah stated. “That’s probably for the best.”
Anthem is dead.
— Destin (@DestinLegarie) January 15, 2026
Anthem EP Mark Darrah’s 3 hour video made the rounds and I followed up here.
What was Anthem NEXT?
How Did Anthem Change BioWare Forever?
What does that mean for Mass Effect?
My exclusive interview is now live on YouTube.https://t.co/zge64n1SvC
Learning From Anthem for the New Mass Effect
This pivot didn’t happen in a vacuum. The studio faced significant hurdles with Anthem and the mixed reception surrounding recent Dragon Age projects.
Darrah suggests the current Mass Effect 5 team is doing exactly what the studio should have done years ago. When resources moved to save Anthem, other projects suffered.
Now, BioWare has effectively become a one-project studio. While this creates a “different set of problems“—specifically huge gaps between releases—it eliminates the resource wars that plagued previous titles.
ME5 Release Window and Details
Executive Producer Mike Gamble confirmed the team is “heads-down,” citing the massive workload ahead. They have “lots of universe to cover” and, classically, “lots of romances to figure out.”
Reports hint that we might not see the game until 2028 or 2029. It is a long wait, but the trade-off is a focused team not distracted by a second production line.
Verdict: Is Mass Effect 5 Worth Waiting For?
BioWare’s decision to go “all-in” is a risky but necessary move. By removing internal competition, Mass Effect 5 gets the undivided attention it needs to restore the studio’s reputation.
For fans, this means patience is the only option. The studio is betting everything on this return to the Milky Way, prioritizing quality over release frequency.
If you had to pick one Mass Effect 3 ending to be canonized for this new game, which one would you choose?
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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BioWare was lucky to survive the debacle of Anthem: a game nobody asked for, directly resulting in the sullying of a beloved franchise that itself was reeling from a slapdash climax to the trilogy. When ME5 releases, it'll be a decade since Anthem; almost 2 since their last actually good game. Anything less than excellent and the studio is dead.