Last week, Electronic Arts made the decision to shut down BioWare after more than 30 years. BioWare, best known for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, and Mass Effect, was in early development of Mass Effect 5. The game is now canceled, and fans are not going quietly.
On X, a new account called We are Mass Effect has taken to the platform to show the world that the fan demand for the series is still there and that, if EA shuts down BioWare, then the rights to the franchise should be sold to let another developer continue the series.
The billboard in Times Square in New York City simply says: “Keelah si’yah,” which is an in-game language. Roughly translated by IGN, the text reads, ” By the homeworld I hope to find one day.” Save Mass Effect was also added with a hashtag.
The leader of the We are Mass Effect account is Ariel Peña Aguilar. In an interview with IGN, Aguilar stated that he and several of his close confidants have already sent emails to EA regarding the matter, as well as contacted Canadian politicians.
Content creator Kala Elizabeth has also heavily backed the movement and helped get the billboard established in Times Square. Elizabeth confirmed that the billboard was originally supposed to say “keelah se’lai” instead.
Separately and not directly related to this specific group of people, a petition on Change.org has gained hundreds of thousands of supporters.
Elizabeth also stated that the next billboard will include a QR code to a petition. May game developers, fans, and industry veterans have signed the petition.
The movement does not plan on stopping anytime soon. There are plans for a GoFundMe to raise more money for more awareness and marketing campaigns, as well as plans for Mass Effect‘s 20th anniversary on November 7, 2027.
