Canceled Mass Effect game had branching timelines

A former BioWare developer has shared more about the canceled Mass Effect: Universe game after this week’s studio closure and recent leaks. He confirmed some of the earlier details, including a customizable main character and lore about how the Mass Relays were repaired after Mass Effect 3.

The biggest new detail was the game’s choice system. He said the team planned to use all the major decisions from the first Mass Effect games and build them into different timelines. He described it as something that could let players create branching paths, even if choices conflicted with earlier ones.

He also said the team wanted the game to give players “absolute autonomy.” That meant the game would check whether a story path was still valid and either adjust the mission flow, create a new branch, or let a mission fail if needed.

He added that the trailer was an internal video meant for BioWare staff, not the public. It used the song “Quartz” by French 79, and he also revealed that the creature fans had nicknamed the “squid thing” was internally called “Billy.”