Home News > Jack Wall on Not Returning for Mass Effect 3: 'Fallouts Happen, It's Part of the Deal'

Jack Wall on Not Returning for Mass Effect 3: 'Fallouts Happen, It's Part of the Deal'

by Liam May 24,2025

Composer Jack Wall, renowned for his contributions to the Mass Effect series, recently opened up about his absence from Mass Effect 3 in an interview with The Guardian. Wall, who crafted the iconic 80s sci-fi inspired soundtracks for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, shared insights into his departure from the series after the critically acclaimed Mass Effect 2, which many consider one of the greatest action role-playing games of all time. His work on Mass Effect 2, notably the track 'Suicide Mission,' has been celebrated as a pinnacle in the series.

Wall's absence from Mass Effect 3 in 2012 came as a surprise to fans. He attributed his departure to a falling out with Casey Hudson, who was leading the development of the Mass Effect series at the time. Wall expressed pride in his work on Mass Effect 2, despite the tensions with Hudson. "Casey was not particularly happy with me at the end," Wall remarked, acknowledging the Bafta nomination and overall success of the score, even if it didn't meet Hudson's expectations.

The Guardian hinted at a "creative tension" between Wall and Hudson, but Wall was reserved about the specifics. "Fallouts like that happen, it's just part of the deal," he stated, emphasizing that such incidents are rare in his career and were challenging to navigate.

Wall also reflected on the intense process of creating the music for Mass Effect 2, particularly the 'Suicide Mission' sequence. He described it as an incredibly demanding task, compounded by the pressure of the game's development team. "It was the biggest mind-f***ing thing I’ve ever done in my entire life," Wall admitted, highlighting the significant effort required from both him and BioWare to finalize the track and integrate it into the game successfully.

Following his work on Mass Effect 2, Wall transitioned to composing for the Call of Duty series, with his most recent project being the soundtrack for Black Ops 6. Meanwhile, BioWare is currently developing the next installment in the Mass Effect series after releasing Dragon Age: The Veilguard, though they have yet to announce the composer for the upcoming game.