Composer Discusses Crafting Music for Mass Effect 5 After Sharing 22 Minutes of Unused Tracks That Are Truly Impressive

Another piece of the canceled Mass Effect 5 puzzle has emerged, revealing that composer Austin Wintory, known for his work on Journey and Stray Gods, was in discussions to create the soundtrack for what would have been Mass Effect: Universe. Although the collaboration wasn’t finalized—hence the leaked internal trailer featuring a licensed track—Wintory shared in a YouTube video that he developed some musical concepts for the game last year, recording them with a Los Angeles orchestra. After listening to the pieces, they evoke the orchestral electronic style that fans associate with the series, but they also incorporate a heavier string presence than previous soundtracks.

Importantly, Wintory mentioned that he was unaware of the game’s storyline, so while some track titles reference Commander Shepard from the original trilogy, this was more about capturing a certain vibe rather than hinting at plot elements. He included production notes with each track, detailing the instrumentation and the scenes he envisioned while composing. Wintory aimed to honor the original trilogy’s composers, Jack Wall and Sam Hulick, using their music as a foundation to build upon. While this news may not be as thrilling as a new trailer or plot revelations, it certainly stirs nostalgia for what might have been.

It’s a bit of a downer, especially since it’s only been a week since the announcement of EA shutting down BioWare and halting work on Mass Effect: Universe. Each day seems to bring new insights into the project that never came to fruition. Developers, collaborators, and consultants have shared extensive details about the game’s development, and it’s clear that the small team was genuinely excited about their work before EA decided to pull the plug.