Jennifer Hale, the iconic voice of Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect franchise, has recently opened up about her hopes for what might happen in the game’s next installment. While fans have been waiting for half a decade for more news, Hale clarified in a recent interview that she hasn’t yet been called into the recording booth for the upcoming project. This update comes at a time when gamers are looking for any sign that the development of the new Mass Effect is moving forward. It’s clear that the interest in this sci-fi universe hasn’t faded, even with the long silence from the developers. Her recent comments have sparked a new wave of speculation about where the studio might take things.
It’s been over five years since BioWare first confirmed it was working on a new Mass Effect game, and in that time, the industry has changed significantly. The studio had primarily been focused on finishing Dragon Age: The Veilguard, leaving the sci-fi series in a bit of a holding pattern. Additionally, Electronic Arts owns BioWare and is the subject of acquisition news that raises questions about the long-term stability of its studios. This gap in releases—it’s been eight years since Mass Effect: Andromeda—has left the community clinging to the remastered Legendary Edition to get their fix. The saga has a deep history, with the original trilogy hailed as a masterpiece of storytelling and player choice, creating a huge amount of pressure for whatever comes next.
Mass Effect Fans Are Seriously Worried About BioWare’s Future
Mass Effect fans are voicing their concerns about the future of the sci-fi RPG franchise and its developer following the recent news about EA.
A Dream Scenario for the Normandy’s Finest
In a recent conversation with GamesRadar, Hale was quick to share her ultimate dream for the return of Mass Effect‘s most famous captain, about how to bring the two versions of the protagonist together in a single game. Talking about her dream scenario, Hale laughed and said, “Oh, bring Shepard back. Find a way for Mark [Meer] and I to be together in the same universe. Wouldn’t that be fun? And bring the whole crew back.” She also mentioned that while the previous stories were excellent, there is still so much of the galaxy that hasn’t been explored yet. Hale believes that even though the main arcs might feel complete, the universe is easily large enough to support a brand-new set of adventures.
However, Hale was very honest about her concerns regarding the soul of the studio that makes these games. She is worried that the unique culture that made the first games so special might have been lost during various corporate changes. She stated, “I have so many hopes. But I also have concerns as BioWare was sold to someone who’s now also being sold, and we don’t know…I mean the culture and the ethos that created that incredible game, I don’t know how intact it is or isn’t. I have no idea and no way to know,” she said. “I know the spirit of it is very much alive and well, and the appetite and the community for more is absolutely there, and I will be there with bells on if I were asked to.”
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Looking back at her journey with the character, Hale also discussed the massive cultural weight the series carries. In a deep dive with Polygon from January, she talked about how much representation mattered in these games and how she was moved to tears by the reaction to the Mass Effect Legendary Edition trailer. She noted that it took until the third game for her version of Shepard to even appear on the cover, which made her realize how often female leads were treated as second-class in the industry. Hale also shared some behind-the-scenes secrets about the recording process, like how she would “flavor” her lines differently for Paragon and Renegade paths. She admitted that she “sucks” at playing games herself, but seeing the game in action during a profile for The New Yorker “drove her insane” because she saw all the context she missed in the booth. She even mentioned that the emotional scenes, particularly the farewells to characters like Garrus, were just as hard for her to record as they were for players to experience. This deep emotional connection is why Hale told GamesRadar that “Shepard is alive if you make it so,” urging the community to keep asking for more.
Even with all this passion, the actual arrival of the new Mass Effect game isn’t happening anytime soon. Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah has noted that the team isn’t currently at its full size. He pointed out that “Mass Effect isn’t ready to suddenly have a team of 250, 300 people working on it,” explaining that the studio has focused on its other major fantasy titles instead. Hale compared the excitement for the series to the level of Star Wars, noting that “the passion is equal” between the two. She believes that “the stories that were told have been told, but there are more stories to tell. It is a vast, vast universe,” and that “the potential for the Mass Effect universe is still very much untapped. I think there’s a lot more to live into and to create from.” For now, the actress is standing by and waiting to see if BioWare will finally give the community the return they’ve been begging for. Whether fans see the old crew again or start fresh in a new part of space, it’s clear that Hale is ready to jump back in whenever the call finally comes.
- Released
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May 14, 2021
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
