Save Mass Effect petition passes 200,000 signatures

The Save Mass Effect campaign keeps growing. A Change.org petition launched after BioWare's closure has passed 200,000 signatures, and both Commander Shepard actors, Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, are backing the fans.

Key facts

• Petition: Change.org, started by Joe Smith
• Signatures: more than 200,000 (per IGN)
• Ask: keep developing Mass Effect, or license the IP to another studio
• Backers include: Jennifer Hale, Mark Meer, the Destiny community, Owlcat Games
• Context: EA closed BioWare and cancelled its next Mass Effect

What does the Save Mass Effect petition ask for?

Eurogamer reports the petition was started by Joe Smith. It does not directly ask EA to reverse the closure. Instead, it calls for a firm commitment to keep developing Mass Effect, with proper funding, enough staff and enough time.

It also offers a second route. EA could license the Mass Effect IP to another studio that wants to keep the series alive. The text says fans have spent thousands of hours in this galaxy, and that ending the series would hurt narrative-driven games as a whole.

The numbers climbed fast. Eurogamer counted more than 187,000 signatures, and IGN later reported the petition had passed 200,000 verified signatures.

What did Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer say?

Jennifer Hale, the voice of female Shepard, posted a video over the weekend. She described a world where fans start a Kickstarter, investors and a games company join in, and a collective brings Mass Effect back to life.

Mark Meer, who voiced male Shepard, backed the idea in his own video. He called it a pretty good one and urged followers to sign the petition. The pair had already discussed BioWare's closure in an Instagram Live on October 21.

As PC Gamer reported, Hale said her first thoughts were with the staff who lost their jobs. She also said BioWare had been in the hands of owners who may not have understood what the studio really was. Meer called the closure a massive loss for Edmonton, for Canada and for the games industry.

Will fans still celebrate N7 Day this year?

Meer says yes. Even without corporate support, he said N7 Day will be celebrated this year, and the 20th anniversary of the first Mass Effect will be marked next year too.

Who else is supporting the campaign?

Support has spread beyond Mass Effect fans. IGN says the Destiny community, which ran its own campaign this year over Destiny 2 content, has been loudly boosting the petition. Owlcat Games also pinned a post on The Expanse: Osiris Reborn account asking followers to sign.

• Jennifer Hale: pitched a community-funded Kickstarter idea
• Mark Meer: asked fans to sign the petition
• Destiny community: amplified the campaign on social media
• Owlcat Games: backed it from The Expanse: Osiris Reborn account

Can a petition change EA's mind?

Nobody knows yet. IGN notes that revivals on this scale are rare. PC Gamer is also sceptical of the Kickstarter idea, pointing out that many big crowdfunded games still needed traditional investment to ship.

The backdrop is grim. Eurogamer notes EA's cuts also hit Respawn, Maxis, Full Circle and EA Motive. You can read about the cancelled project in our Mass Effect Universe details report and the closure itself in our BioWare closure story.

FAQ

How many signatures does the Save Mass Effect petition have?

According to IGN, the Change.org petition has passed 200,000 verified signatures.

What does the Save Mass Effect petition want from EA?

It asks EA to keep developing Mass Effect with proper funding, staff and time, or to license the IP to another studio.

Do Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer support the petition?

Yes. Both Shepard actors posted #SaveMassEffect videos, and Meer asked fans to sign the petition.

Sources

• IGN: #SaveMassEffect petition crosses 200,000 signatures
• Eurogamer: 187K+ fans call for EA to Save Mass Effect
• PC Gamer: Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer mourn BioWare