A user on Reddit–presumably a former employee at BioWare–has posted a trailer for the long rumored “Mass Effect 5″ project. The post comes one day after publisher EA announced that it will be closing the acclaimed developer.

Titled “Mass Effect Universe,” the trailer gives fans a glimpse at what could have been, with a brand new protagonist working alongside the recognizable Liara T’soni.

It’s believed that the trailer “had been ready to go for months,” and could have been planned to debut next month on November 7th or “N7” day, a date that has often been an annual celebration of BioWare and Mass Effect in particular amongst the developer and fans.

The authenticity of the trailer has also been supported by numerous people in the gaming industry, including IGN, and Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier.

From what we can gather from the trailer, the new hero is a former soldier turned mercenary who has fought in numerous past wars, such as the Krogan Uprising. He meets up with an Asari who attempts to double cross him, only for Liara to reveal herself nearby, proving that our protagonist has done his homework.

The tone of the trailer leans heavy on espionage, and feels close to a James Bond film rather than a space odyssey. Still, the Mass Effect franchise has dipped its toes into the spy genre before, in particular with the Kasumi Goto recruitment mission in Mass Effect 2, and the series is large enough to allow for many different takes on the source material.

Or it would be, I should say, since yesterday EA canceled the game and closed down the studio in a surprise announcement.

BioWare began in 1995, and quickly became known for their immersive RPGs and deep storylines. They released the very first Baldur’s Gate in 1998, and followed that with a sequel–Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn–in 2000; both games became instant classics, and would serve as inspiration for countless CRPGs to this very day. The studio would go on to launch another game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, Neverwinter Nights, in 2002.

BioWare then became an instant household name for console players with 2003’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, followed by Jade Empire in 2005, the original Mass Effect in 2007, and finally Dragon Age: Origins in 2009. All of these games proved that the intricately designed RPGs that were popular on PCs since the 80s could be possible on home consoles, and each are considered some of the very best games of their genre and time period.

Although the gaming community has been dismayed with their closure, most aren’t particularly surprised. Publisher Electronic Arts has long been known to buy highly regarded developer studios, only to sunset not long after. Gamers half-joked since the deal was made in 2007 that the studio’s days were numbered based on this fact alone.

BioWare’s inconsistent track record since hasn’t helped matters, either. Although Mass Effect 2 received incredible praise, Dragon Age 2 released the year after marked perhaps the company’s first critical misstep. Then, the much anticipated Mass Effect 3 delivered an ending that became one of the most controversial in all of gaming, leading to many fans to feel despaired with the studio.

BioWare’s next title, Dragon Age: Inquisition, was largely a hit for the developer, but their next three games–Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard–all suffered critically and commercially, with great controversy following most of these games in some form or another.

It is unknown what will happen to the remnants of BioWare’s workforce, and the fate of the franchise’s that they created. It is possible that the team could go independent and purchase the rights to their catalogue, but it is unlikely EA would part with Mass Effect unless presented with a hefty sum.

What are your thoughts on the leaked trailer? Do you think the project deserved to be canceled, or does it make you even more upset about BioWare’s shuttering? Let us know in the comments below, and stay with us for all your gaming content!

Source: Reddit via Random_Hyabusa_Ninja