?Something's really possible”: Mass Effect cast rallies for #SaveMassEffect on first N7 Day after BioWare closure
This N7 Day marked a somber milestone for the Mass Effect community: the first annual celebration held in the absence of developer BioWare. However, fans and the series' original cast have turned the occasion into a rallying cry for the franchise's future, joining the growing #SaveMassEffect movement.
In the weeks following the sudden closure of BioWare and the subsequent cancellation of the Mass Effect Universe, the community-led group 'We Are Mass Effect' has escalated its efforts to draw attention to the franchise's uncertain fate. The group has organized high-profile campaigns, including billboards in Times Square and mobile displays outside the former BioWare Edmonton office, all aimed at driving support toward an online petition.
For this year's N7 Day, the movement gained significant momentum as a large portion of the original trilogy's voice cast appeared in a two-minute video to lend their support. The video featured actors who voiced iconic characters, including Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer (Commander Shepard), Brandon Keener (Garrus), Courtnay Taylor (Jack), Ash Sroka (Tali'Zorah), Keythe Farley (Thane), and original trilogy composer Sam Hulick, with some appearing in character to emphasize the urgency of the #SaveMassEffect message.
A sense of hope amidst the closure
Despite the gravity of the studio's dissolution, Jennifer Hale expressed a surprising sense of optimism regarding the franchise's potential survival. In an interview, she noted that while her primary concern was for the developers and staff, she felt a strange sense of hope that something might still be possible for the series.
The movement's urgency is underscored by the long-term erosion of the studio's workforce. Mark Meer pointed out that the current situation is the culmination of years of restructuring. He noted that annual layoffs at EA had been steadily reducing BioWare's teams, including the loss of senior writers and industry veterans who had been with the company since its foundational years in the 1990s.
Флешка
