Key Takeaways
- Casey Hudson’s Humanoid Origin studio shuts down and cancels a sci-fi game due to industry challenges.
- The shutdown adds to the wave of layoffs in the video game industry.
- Fans hope Hudson can find another studio to develop a new sci-fi title despite the current closure.
Adding to the seemingly relentless layoffs and terminations that have plagued the video game industry since 2023, Mass Effect creator Casey Hudson’s development studio Humanoid Origin has shut down and canceled its upcoming sci-fi game. Hudson had firmly established an impressive legacy following the success of the original Mass Effect trilogy, but it would seem that the wider industry issues have proven too much for the veteran’s new endeavors.
Considered to be one of the best science fiction roleplaying games of all time, the first Mass Effect quickly garnered a dedicated audience that continued to follow the series with its second and third entries. Headed by Casey Hudson, the Mass Effect game franchise solidified itself as a classic franchise in video game history, though Hudson chose to move on from the series and focus on other opportunities. Unfortunately, for Hudson and others, that new journey has come to an abrupt end.
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In a public post on LinkedIn, Casey Hudson’s Humanoid Origin made the announcement that the studio will be shutting down. The statement notes that “broader challenges in the industry” left the company facing a financial shortfall that has brought an end to operations. Humanoid Origin thanked its team members for their incredible work on its now-canceled sci-fi RPG and lamented that its science-fiction universe will no longer reach completion. In spite of the studio’s best efforts to “shield” itself from the broader issues impacting the video game industry, Humanoid Origin has joined the likes of other game studios that shut down in recent months.
Humanoid Origin Studio Shuts Down, Cancels Sci-Fi Game
Dozens of AAA and indie game studios have announced canceled projects, workplace restructurings, and massive layoffs in the gaming industry, with Humanoid Origin and its unreleased title to be the latest casualties. Audiences have remained skeptical over whether the unfortunate trend will ever reach an end, and many have worried about the long-term implications for studios and their teams and projects. At the time of writing, there has been no direct statement from Casey Hudson on the shutdown, but longtime Mass Effect fans and fellow gamers are keeping their fingers crossed that the creative will find his way to another studio and continue working on bringing a new sci-fi experience to life.
As workers and fans alike grapple with yet another studio closure, some remain optimistic that the years ahead will see greater stability. The demand for sci-fi games like Mass Effect remains high, so there is likely an audience for Casey Hudson’s unreleased project. Whether the industry veteran and his fellow team members will be able to find a new home to fully develop the title remains to be seen, but fans of Mass Effect and the Humanoid Origin team are hoping for the best.
Mass Effect
- Created by
- Casey Hudson
- Creation Year
- 2007
- Developer(s)
- BioWare , Edge of Reality , Demiurge Studios , Straight Right