Composer Austin Wintory has released 22 minutes of music he created for the canceled Mass Effect 5, calling it his "all-time dream project" that never came to be. Wintory was in talks with BioWare and EA to create music for the game, but the project was ultimately canceled when EA shut down the studio. The music, which was recorded and produced in Los Angeles, is a love letter to the Mass Effect franchise and features a mix of synths, vocals, and a large orchestra.
Wintory hopes his drafts do justice to the work of Jack Wall and Sam Hulick, who scored the original Mass Effect game. The cancellation of Mass Effect 5 and the shutdown of BioWare has been met with disappointment from fans, who have been fighting for a revival of the franchise. A petition has garnered over 230,000 signatures, and a Times Square billboard has been erected in support of the game.
Despite the cancellation, Wintory's music provides a glimpse into what could have been, and a testament to the impact BioWare has had on the gaming industry.