Mass Effect Director’s Studio and New Sci-Fi Game Shut Down Amidst Industry Challenges

Regardless of your role in the gaming world, it’s clear the industry is going through a challenging period. This is underscored by the closure of Humanoid Origin, a studio spearheaded by the director of Mass Effect.

Over the past year, it seems like each week has brought news of layoffs, closures, or other difficulties. Sadly, this week follows the same pattern. In 2021, Casey Hudson, who is best known for directing the original Mass Effect trilogy—and was also involved in the early stages of the less successful Anthem—revealed that he had started a new venture called Humanoid Origin. The studio was aiming to create an entirely new intellectual property. Unfortunately, that vision won’t see fruition, as an announcement on Humanoid Origin’s LinkedIn page yesterday confirmed the studio’s closure due to insufficient funding. According to the post, “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down. Despite our attempts to protect the studio from the larger issues facing the industry, an unforeseen funding gap has made it impossible for us to continue.”

The post goes on to express a deep sense of loss that they won’t be able to bring their new sci-fi universe to life, but their primary focus now is on supporting their team through the transition to new opportunities. The message praises the team for their extraordinary strides and the remarkable culture of creativity and fun they nurtured. They extend heartfelt gratitude to the team for their skills, bravery, and camaraderie, and thank everyone who has supported them on this journey.

This news is disheartening, yet it reflects a broader trend in the industry. The challenges of securing funding have become increasingly apparent, alongside a staggering 14,000+ layoffs reported just in 2024. Here’s hoping the talented folks at Humanoid Origin find new paths forward quickly.