Mass Effect Director Faces Industry Challenges as His Studio and New Sci-Fi Game Close Down

Right now, things are looking pretty challenging in the gaming world. The latest blow comes with the news that Humanoid Origin, a new venture from the mind behind Mass Effect, is closing its doors.

It seems like every week brings fresh news of layoffs or closures, and sadly, this week hasn’t broken the cycle. In 2021, Casey Hudson—the driving force behind the original Mass Effect trilogy and a key figure in the initial phase of the less celebrated Anthem—announced the birth of Humanoid Origin. The studio was set to work on an exciting new project. Now, those plans have come to an abrupt halt. Just yesterday, Humanoid Origin’s LinkedIn page conveyed the unfortunate announcement: the studio is closing due to insufficient funds. A statement from their post reads, “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.”

It’s disheartening to hear that their promising new science-fiction universe won’t see the light of day. The studio’s priority, though, is looking after their talent, ensuring they have the support needed as they move on to new opportunities. The message continued, “We’re heartbroken that we will not be able to bring our new science-fiction universe to completion. Our main concern at this time however is for our team, and 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. Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey.”

It’s a tough break, no doubt, and sadly becoming too frequent in this climate. With over 14,000 layoffs already reported in 2024 alone, funding has been as tricky an issue as it’s ever been. Let’s hope that everyone from Humanoid Origin finds new paths quickly. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for all those affected.