Austin Wintory shares scrapped Mass Effect 5 soundtrack music
Austin Wintory, the Grammy-winning composer known for his evocative scores on titles like Journey and Sword Of The Sea, has pulled back the curtain on a deeply personal artistic endeavor, sharing twenty minutes of music created for the scrapped Mass Effect 5 soundtrack.
The story of Mass Effect is one of the gaming world’s enduring epics. Spanning a beloved trilogy where players commanded Commander Shepard in a quest to halt the destruction of the universe from the hands of the Reapers, the franchise has built a dedicated community that spans nearly two decades. Following this foundational series, the universe expanded with Mass Effect: Andromeda in 2017, cementing the franchise as a cornerstone of science fiction gaming.
However, the fate of the next chapter proved far more dramatic than any galactic conflict. Developers BioWare and EA ultimately confirmed that plans for Mass Effect 5 were scrapped, leading to the shutdown of the studio. This decision sparked a passionate response from fans, who rallied behind a petition asking the publishers to commit to the continued development of the iconic franchise or allow another entity to take the helm.
Amidst this professional upheaval, Wintory turned his creative focus to his personal passion. He framed the work on Mass Effect 5 as his career’s biggest dream project—a true white whale. In the years leading up to the cancellation, Wintory engaged in serious conversations with BioWare and EA about the possibility of contributing to the project.
His pitch for the lost soundtrack was a masterclass in musical reverence. Wintory suggested treating the original game’s masterful score, crafted by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick, as a launchpad. His vision involved building upon that foundation, incorporating deeper textures using physical and analog synthesizers, interwoven with a richer use of the orchestra. It was, as he noted, fundamentally a love letter to the franchise.
To bring this vision to life, Wintory produced an elaborate surprise: nearly twenty minutes of music, fully recorded and produced with synths, vocals, and a full orchestra. This sonic exploration took place in Los Angeles, demonstrating his commitment to the musical legacy of the series regardless of the project’s eventual status.
The revelation of the cancellation and subsequent studio closure brought a sense of profound loss to Wintory. He expressed deep gratitude to the teams at BioWare and EA for allowing him the opportunity to dream within their sandbox. While the project ended, the enduring legacy of the Mass Effect universe continues, especially with the ongoing TV adaptation.
Wintory’s exploration serves as a poignant reminder that while corporate decisions can change the course of a massive creative endeavor, the art created within those worlds endures. It is a testament to the power of music and shared stories, even when the final chapter is written by fate.
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