Armando Troisi, a former BioWare cinematic designer, says the next Mass Effect game can be great if the people making it are given room to do their jobs. He was speaking about a team that still includes several veterans of the original trilogy.
In an interview with FRVR, relayed by Video Games Chronicle, Troisi said Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts and Parrish Ley remain at BioWare. Watamaniuk was lead designer, Watts was art director and Ley was lead cinematic animator on the original games.
The next Mass Effect game still has original-trilogy veterans
Troisi said the returning developers do not need advice from him because they already understand the series and the work involved.
“It’s hard for me to say because a lot of people that are on that project were there [during the originals]. They know. Preston is there, and Derek is there, and Parish is there, and they’re the OGs, you know? I don’t think there’s anything that I could tell them that they don’t know what to do.”
Armando Troisi, via FRVR
BioWare confirmed in a January 2025 studio update that a core team was developing the next Mass Effect game under veterans of the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Watamaniuk, Watts and Ley. The studio also said it was becoming more focused after Dragon Age: The Veilguard, with the team between full development cycles.
Why BioWare’s next Mass Effect game needs room to work
Troisi’s wider concern was publisher and executive direction. He pointed to BioWare’s shift towards live-service development, and reports that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had previously been pushed towards that model before changing course.
“It’s one of those things where, if people get out of the way and let game creators just do their thing, you never know the magic that they can create. I think, obviously, there’s a lot of different things that come to play in making a game of that scale. But trust your people and try to change the world with everything that you try to do. And I think that they can do it. I’m rooting for them.”
Armando Troisi, via FRVR
The next Mass Effect game has no announced release date, and BioWare has not shown gameplay. Its January 2025 update is the latest official confirmation used here that development is active. For more on the franchise beyond games, tbreak’s Mass Effect coverage covers the planned Prime Video series.
Who is working on the next Mass Effect game?
BioWare says the core team includes original-trilogy veterans Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts and Parrish Ley.
Has the next Mass Effect game got a release date?
No. BioWare has not announced a release date or shown public gameplay for the next Mass Effect game.
What did Armando Troisi say about the new Mass Effect?
Troisi said the returning BioWare veterans already know what they are doing and should be trusted to make the game without unwanted changes in direction.
