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

In today’s gaming industry landscape, it seems like challenges are around every corner as Humanoid Origin—the fresh venture from the brains behind Mass Effect—announces its closure.

Lately, it feels as though hardly a week goes by without hearing about layoffs or studio closures, and sadly, this week is no exception. Casey Hudson, famed for directing the original Mass Effect trilogy and an early driving force behind the less celebrated Anthem, founded Humanoid Origin back in 2021. The studio was ambitiously set to work on a brand-new project. However, as of yesterday, Humanoid Origin’s LinkedIn page confirmed it’s shutting its doors due to financial constraints. The announcement stated, “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down. Despite our attempts to shield the studio from the wider industry’s challenges, an unexpected funding shortfall left us unable to continue.”

“We’re truly heartbroken that we’re unable to complete our new science-fiction universe,” the post continued. “Our priority now is supporting our team through this transition towards new opportunities. During our time together, the progress we made was remarkable, proving how much can be achieved in an environment that thrives on creativity and fun. We deeply appreciate our team’s talent, courage, and friendship, and extend our gratitude to everyone who backed us on this journey.”

This news is undeniably disheartening, and what makes it worse is how common such stories have become. Financial issues have been increasingly prevalent, contributing to over 14,000 layoffs just this year alone in 2024. Here’s hoping that everyone from the studio will quickly find their next adventure.