More than 197,000 Mass Effect fans signed a petition to save the franchise after Electronic Arts announced last week it was shutting down BioWare.
The numbers signing the petition are a big measure of the emotional attachment people have to Mass Effect. The petitioners include the actors who voiced the male and female versions of protagonist commander Shepard, Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale.
“Mass Effect holds a special place in the hearts of millions of players worldwide,” the petition said. “Its rich and immersive sci-fi universe, with Commander Shepard leading the iconic crew aboard the Normandy, has captivated gamers for years. However, recent revelations have cast a shadow over its future. The decline in dedicated resources and ambiguous development plans from Electronic Arts threaten to leave this beloved series at a standstill, jeopardizing its incredible legacy.”
The petition calls for EA to take decisive action by committing to the continued development of Mass Effect with proper funding, adequate staffing and enough time to advance the high standards the franchise is known for.
EA laid off 400 of its 14,500 people last week and shut BioWare. It also cut staff at various studios such as Ripple Effect and The Sims. EA has considerable debt — about $20 billion — thanks to its $55 billion buyout by a group led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Other BioWare franchises that were lost include Dragon Age, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.