The Leaked Mass Effect 5 Trailer Is Absolutely Heartbreaking

After hearing the disappointing news that EA has shuttered BioWare, putting an end to two of my favorite RPG franchises— Mass Effect and Dragon Age —I have been, like so many other players, feeling pretty bummed out. But I consoled myself with the fact that, given the environment at BioWare in recent years, the now-canceled Mass Effect 5 probably wouldn't be that good anyway.

Like many players, I enjoyed the Mass Effect trilogy, but felt that Mass Effect: Andromeda fell short. Similarly, BioWare's other recent titles— Anthem and Dragon Age: The Veilguard —struggled with messy development cycles marked by frequent changes in direction, mixed messages from higher-ups at EA, constant staff turnover, and other issues that ultimately led to an underwhelming gaming experience. After playing Veilguard, which felt nothing like the Dragon Age games I had grown to love, my hopes weren't too high for Mass Effect 5. …