Video Games
The creators of Mass Effect are closing their independent studios before releasing any titles
Casey Hudson, the creator of Mass Effect, has announced the closure of his studio before they’re able to release their first game due to financial issues.
The video game industry is experiencing a situation of general instability. If 2023 was a rough year, 2024 is showing that everything can get worse. Large companies like Riot Games, Microsoft, and Sony have cut down their staff worldwide, while the most modest studios have also suffered the ravages of a crisis that seems to have no end. Two former BioWare members have experienced firsthand the suffocation of a completely unsustainable situation. And all in the same week.
Casey Hudson, director of Mass Effect and former general manager of BioWare, founded Humanoid Origin to create a new science fiction video game, but the studio has announced that it cannot continue. He was surprised by an unforeseen event related to their financing, which has led to the closure of the developer. “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down. Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
In the statement, they assure that they are “heartbroken” for not being able to complete their science fiction project, although they emphasize that their biggest concern at this moment is the team. “We are committed to supporting them in their transition to new employment. In our time together, the team achieved incredible progress, and demonstrated that it’s possible to do amazing work while fostering a culture of fun and creativity. We thank them for their talent, courage, and friendship.”
Worlds Untold loses NetEase funding, but all is not lost
Mac Walters, another of the directors of Mass Effect, has experienced a very similar situation firsthand. The Worlds Untold studio has lost its funding, as the developer himself has announced on LinkedIn: “This is a heartbreaking moment for everyone involved, but I’m deeply grateful for the support of our partners, friends and family, and for the time we’ve had together at Worlds Untold. While we’re pausing for now, this isn’t goodbye—there’s more to come, and we look forward to sharing the next chapter with you when the time is right.”
In a statement sent to Eurogamer, NetEase has confirmed that it has decided to stop funding the studio. They attribute the decision to market conditions and point out that their priorities have changed, so they are looking for other opportunities. “We are actively collaborating with the studio to explore potential next steps and provide support during this transition.”
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