Mass Effect Voice Actress Would Like to See Shepard Return — but Has Doubts About Today’s BioWare

Actress Jennifer Hale, who voiced the female version of Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series, shared her hopes and concerns about the next installment of the franchise. In an interview with GamesRadar+, she admitted that she would love to see the legendary captain return.

According to the actress, interest in the Mass Effect universe today can be compared to the level of excitement surrounding Star Wars. However, she is not sure whether BioWare has managed to preserve the creative spirit that defined the original trilogy.

Hale also emphasized that the Mass Effect community remains active and continues to wait for a new installment. If she were invited to work on the project again, she says she would accept without hesitation.

The most recent entry in the franchise was Mass Effect: Andromeda, released in March 2017. The game received mixed reviews: critics praised its revamped combat system and visuals, but criticized the weak story, stiff facial animations, and numerous technical issues. After its troubled launch, plans for DLC and a direct continuation were canceled, and BioWare Montreal was merged into another EA division. Hale did not participate in that installment — her version of Shepard completed the character’s story back in 2012 with Mass Effect 3.

The next entry in the series — Mass Effect 5 — was first announced in 2020 with a teaser featuring the return of Liara T’Soni. However, the project remains in pre-production. On N7 Day in November 2025, executive producer Mike Gamble confirmed that development is continuing and that BioWare is now fully focused on the project. The studio has also been opening new job positions, which only reinforces the idea that the release is still a long way off. No official date has been announced — and industry estimates suggest a launch before 2030 is unlikely. The broader corporate context also raises concerns: EA, which owns BioWare, is currently going through mergers and restructuring — something Hale indirectly referred to in her interview.

Do you still believe in today’s BioWare, or has the studio already become a victim of the modern gaming industry? Let us know in the comments.