Save Mass Effect Petition Hits 50,000 Signatures, Just Days After BioWare Closure

EA shut down BioWare on Wednesday, cancelling its upcoming Mass Effect game. And, after the trailer for what's now known as Mass Effect Universe leaked online, fans have started flocking to a petition in the hopes of saving the franchise.

The petition, #SaveMassEffect, was started on the same day as BioWare's closure, and has hit 52,783 signatures at the time of writing, surpassing the original goal of 30,000. Rather than asking EA to reinstate BioWare, the petition demands that EA either puts another studio in charge of the franchise and funds the next Mass Effect game's development, or license out the IP so it can live on.

The petition's author, Joe Smith, made the case for saving Mass Effect: "Mass Effect holds a special place in the hearts of millions of players worldwide. Its rich and immersive sci-fi universe, with Commander Shepard leading the iconic crew aboard the Normandy, has captivated gamers for years. …