Mass Effect Music Mastermind on Skipping ME3

Composer Jack Wall explains his absence from Mass Effect 3's soundtrack, a departure that surprised fans given his acclaimed work on the first two games. Wall collaborated with BioWare on the iconic 80s-inspired scores for Mass Effect (2007) and Mass Effect 2 (2010), the latter often lauded as a gaming masterpiece, with Wall's soundtrack, including the memorable "Suicide Mission," a fan favorite.

His non-involvement in the 2012 Mass Effect 3 soundtrack stemmed from a disagreement with then-development head Casey Hudson, as Wall revealed in a recent Guardian interview. He stated, "Casey wasn't particularly happy with me at the end," adding that despite the Bafta nomination and the soundtrack's success, it didn't meet Hudson's expectations.

While the Guardian hinted at "creative tension," Wall remained tight-lipped about the specifics, simply stating, "Fallouts happen; it's part of the business." He did, however, elaborate on the immense challenges of completing Mass Effect 2's score, particularly the "Suicide Mission" sequence, offering a possible glimpse into the strained relationship with Hudson. He described the process as "the biggest mind-f***ing thing I've ever done," highlighting the lack of support due to BioWare's intense efforts to finish the game. Despite the difficulties, he's proud of the result, calling it "one of the best ending sequences to a game I've ever played."

Following Mass Effect 2, Wall transitioned to composing for the Call of Duty franchise, most recently contributing to Black Ops 6. BioWare, currently focused on the next Mass Effect installment after Dragon Age: The Veilguard, has yet to announce its composer for the upcoming title.

The Best BioWare RPGs

Pick a winner

New duel1ST2ND3RDSee your ResultsFinish playing for your personal results or see the community’s!Continue playingSee results