Mass Effect's Commander Shepard Actors, Destiny Community Help #SaveMassEffect Petition Cross 200,000 Signatures

The #SaveMassEffect movement has picked up even more steam after videos from both Commander Shepard actors – and even posts from the Destiny community – helped its petition reach 200,000 signatures.

It's been a whirlwind week for Mass Effect players and fans of the now-shuttered legendary RPG developer BioWare. After EA announced it would be closing the studio and canceling development for Mass Effect 5, fans took action, and the result is something to behold.

In the first weekend of the #SaveMassEffect movement and its accompanying petition, more than 200,000 verified users have offered their signature to the cause. That's thanks in part to the wild amount of social media attention it's garnered in just a few days, but two of its most prominent supporters have already been backing Mass Effect for decades.

— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) October 24, 2026

"You know what I like to think about?" actor Jennifer Hale, who famously played the female version of Commander Shepard for the first three Mass Effect games, said in a video over the weekend. "I like to think about a world where the fans come together to create a Kickstarter, and then a couple of investors join them, and then a really cool game company joins them. Then a collective is formed to bring Mass Effect back to life for the community, for the creatives – for all of us – and it's amazing. That's what I like to think about."

It's a scenario that fans have pushed for, and one Hale believes in. She had already spoken out about the sadness surrounding BioWare's closure after a leaked trailer for its canceled Mass Effect: Universe project found its way online. At the time, she felt "weirdly hopeful," and just a few days later, she donned the #SaveMassEffect hashtag in a post.

When Hale first shared her feelings about EA's decision to lay off staff and bring the game side of the franchise to a halt, she wasn't alone. Joining her during an Instagram livestream was male Shepard actor Mark Meer. He echoed her thoughts, saying that it was "very sad news" for BioWare's home location in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and the industry as a whole. He returned to social media to share a similar video, #SaveMassEffect in tow.

— Mark Meer (@Mark_Meer) October 24, 2026

"I just saw my friend, Jennifer Hale, post about an idea, and I think it's a pretty good one," Meer said. "Save Mass Effect. Hold the line. I should go, and you should go… sign that petition."

At the time of this story's publication, the #SaveMassEffect petition on Change.org, which aims to "prominently illustrate to EA the significance of this iconic series" and demand it continue, has crossed the 200,000-signature mark. It's thanks in part to the continued signal boosting from notable figures like Hale and Meer, who may not have even been included in new Mass Effect games, but they aren't the only ones without a stake in the franchise's future who chose to speak up.

Destiny players, who did their own fair share of organizing when Sony moved to cease development of Destiny 2 content earlier this year, have been a vocal force in the aftermath of BioWare's closure. Although it's hard to say whether organization of this magnitude might impact any decisions to give BioWare developers and their ideas a path forward, the effort is a bit heartwarming to see.

Others from different gaming communities have also done their best to lend a hand. You don't have to search too hard to find posts encouraging anyone who's ever had a brush with Shepard's fight against the Reapers to lend their signature to the cause. Another significant helping hand arrived from developer Owlcat Games, which used the official X/Twitter account for its upcoming game, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, to ask followers to consider signing the petition in a currently pinned post.

#SaveMassEffect https://t.co/6J8yg2dfCQ

— Guardians For Destiny 3 📀 (@GuardiansForD3) October 24, 2026
— The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (@TheExpanseRPG) October 25, 2026
— Jessie Yun (@JessieYun4music) October 24, 2026

Last month, Destiny players were shocked to hear that Bungie was revisiting its plans for the franchise after its community spoke up. In general, revivals at this level are unlikely, and there's no telling if Mass Effect fans will be quite as lucky, but for now, fans don't seem to show any sign of stopping. While we wait to see what is, hopefully, next for the legendary sci-fi RPG series, you can learn more about Mass Effect: Universe thanks to some recently leaked gameplay details. You can also read about the fans hoping to organize a boycott against EA.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).