What a weekend it's been: The #SaveMassEffect petition on Change.org has cracked the 200,000 signature mark. The trigger for this is EA's decision to close BioWare and halt the development of Mass Effect 5.
Who is Supporting the #SaveMassEffect Petition?
The two actors behind Commander Shepard are bringing particular attention to the cause. Jennifer Hale, the female Shepard in the first three installments, dreams in a video of a fan-run Kickstarter campaign: Investors and a "really cool game studio" could join in, a collective could bring Mass Effect back for the community. Mark Meer, the male Shepard, called in his own video for people to sign the petition: "Hold the line."
The Destiny community is also getting involved. They already had their own experience with protest when Sony halted the development of new Destiny 2 content, and are now drumming up support for Mass Effect.
Can the Petition Really Save Mass Effect?
That remains to be seen. The petition aims to highlight the series' importance to EA, but there's no official statement from EA on it yet. Whether such pressure can change decisions is hard to say. Hale's Kickstarter idea is currently just a thought experiment, not an announcement.
How Do We Assess the Situation?
From our perspective, the number is primarily a strong signal to EA. We had extensively covered the closure: EA Closes BioWare and Axes Mass Effect, and shortly thereafter, a leaked trailer for Mass Effect Universe surfaced. The fact that fans and actors are now speaking out together shows how strong the bond to the series still is after all these years. However, this isn't a guarantee for a return – EA remains the rights holder.
Source: IGN
Have you already signed the petition? Discuss with us in the comments if Mass Effect still has a future!
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