Cancelled Mass Effect Game Eyed Baldur’s Gate 3 as a Blueprint

A former BioWare developer revealed that the cancelled Mass Effect game aimed to learn from Baldur’s Gate 3 and CD Projekt Red’s RPGs. The goal was to provide “a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has,” according to Eurogamer.

The reports highlight different CD Projekt Red titles. Eurogamer mentions The Witcher, while TweakTown points to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 as inspirations. Regardless, it’s clear BioWare looked to the studios that are currently leading in player-driven RPGs.

This benchmarking makes sense. Baldur’s Gate 3 launched on August 3, 2023, and boasts a 97 Metacritic score. Larian’s RPG also holds a 96% positive rating from 506,882 Steam reviews, making it one of the best-rated games in its category.

Mass Effect established itself with branching dialogue, squad loyalty, and choices that resonate throughout the trilogy. Baldur’s Gate 3 took that further with systemic freedom, allowing players to tackle challenges through combat, stealth, persuasion, or improvisation. A developer mentioning the cancelled project’s aim for unmatched “autonomy” indicates BioWare wanted to emulate that systemic approach.

Details about specific systems are scarce. The reports don’t clarify which features were in development, the project’s progress, or how the team intended to adapt Larian’s turn-based mechanics to fit Mass Effect’s action-RPG style. Keep in mind, these comments reflect one developer’s perspective and aren’t official BioWare statements.

Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to attract player interest even three years post-launch. At the time of writing, about 30,382 players were online, and Larian is still actively supporting the game. Recent updates include Halloween content on console and a surge of seasonal engagement.

By The Numbers

Baldur’s Gate 3 Metacritic score	97
Steam reviews	96% positive (506,882 reviews)
Current Steam players	30,382
Release date	August 3, 2023
Current Steam price	$59.99

Community Pulse

Player sentiment about Baldur’s Gate 3 is largely positive. It attracts gamers who typically shy away from the genre. One Steam reviewer, who logged 227 hours, said: “Before this game, I had never played a game which has the tags bg3 has. and now I have 227 hours on this thing.” This kind of crossover appeal is exactly what BioWare would hope for in a Mass Effect revival.

What To Watch

• Official word from BioWare or EA. Neither company has commented on the cancelled project, so any statements could change the narrative.
• More detail from the former developer. Future interviews might shed light on which systems were planned and the project’s development stage. Check out the Eurogamer report for the original comments.
• Baldur’s Gate 3 as the genre benchmark. Keep an eye on whether other studios reference Larian’s design in a similar way.