Trent Oster Studies Mass Effect Revival
Trent Oster, a BioWare co-founder and current responsible for Beamdog, is studying financial models in Excel to recover the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises after Electronic Arts shuttered the studio and cancelled the next Mass Effect.
Oster’s proposal involves acquiring the studio and intellectual property rights from Electronic Arts to form a new organization under his leadership. The veteran developer shared that he has gone through more than 30 financial revisions, according to reports.
This intention dates back to August, when Oster shared a hypothetical proposal on LinkedIn to acquire Electronic Arts’ rights to Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Beamdog to merge the teams under his leadership.
Recruiting Former BioWare Developers
Oster wants to reunite original creators and publicly invited James Ohlen to work on Dragon Age again. Later, he helped found Archetype Entertainment, where he worked on the development of Exodus before leaving his leadership role at the studio at the end of 2025.
Money. We’re going to need lots of Money. (Nods head to the Matrix)
Claro! Ter a oportunidade de voltar a trabalhar em Dragon Age é um sonho para mim,
Ohlen replied to the public invitation. The response signals interest from former staff, though it confirms no active collaboration.
Budget Realities and EA Rights
Producing a contemporary AAA role-playing game like a new Mass Effect would require over $200 million, or approximately 179 million euros, according to Oster’s estimates. Oster noted on X that the scary component of Mass Effect is that the public will want the best of “AAA” development.
Despite this, he expressed confidence that the project could be completed for less. That said, I think it can be done well for less than that amount with a disciplined approach and an experienced team.
said Oster on November 5, 2026.
Of course! A chance to work on Dragon Age again is a dream of mine.
The primary barrier remains Electronic Arts, which retains ownership of the franchises and has shown no intention to sell or license them.
Canadian Government Petition Support
A petition launched on November 4 asks the Canadian Parliament for financial support to restore BioWare as an independent studio with its original properties. The independent initiative has already gathered over 6,500 validated signatures. Oster also expressed a desire for Canadian government support. Meanwhile, the #SaveMassEffect movement has gained momentum on social media, with a Change.org petition collecting more than 300,000 signatures.
If the petition reaches the House of Commons, the Canadian government must respond, though funding approval remains optional. Meanwhile, Oster’s own plan faces corporate hurdles because Beamdog is owned by Aspyr and is part of the Embracer Group, requiring approval from current parent companies. Oster has noted that the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 sales may have helped renew interest in deep, narrative RPGs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Mass Effect intellectual property?
Electronic Arts retains full ownership of both the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises and has not announced plans to sell them. Oster noted that Mass Effect has a unique value that exceeds even Dragon Age in terms of world-building.
Hey James, want to #SaveMassEffect
What is the status of Beamdog?
Beamdog was acquired by Aspyr in 2022 and is part of the Embracer Group, meaning any independent studio merger involving Oster requires approval from its owners.
How many signatures does the Canadian petition have?
The petition started on November 4 has surpassed 6,500 validated signatures, requiring a formal response from the Canadian Parliament if it is formally presented to the House of Commons.
I'm keeping my head above water. I could use some onside government for once.
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