Composer Jack Wall has revealed why he didn't return to score *Mass Effect 3*, despite creating the beloved soundtracks for the first two games in the acclaimed series. Wall collaborated with BioWare to produce the iconic 80s sci-fi-inspired music for 2007's *Mass Effect* and its 2010 sequel, *Mass Effect 2*. *Mass Effect 2*, frequently lauded as one of the greatest action RPGs ever made, features Wall's soundtrack, including the memorable "Suicide Mission," a fan favorite and series highlight.
Wall's absence from 2012's *Mass Effect 3* surprised fans. In a recent interview with The Guardian, he attributed his non-return to a disagreement with then-Mass Effect development lead, Casey Hudson.
"Casey wasn't particularly happy with me at the end," Wall stated. "But I'm so proud of that score. It got nominated for a BAFTA, and it did really well… even if it didn’t go as well as Casey wanted."
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The Guardian alluded to "creative tension" between Wall and Hudson, but Wall remained concise. "Fallouts like that happen; it's just part of the deal," he added. "It's one of the few times in my career that's happened, and it was a tough time, but it is what it is."
Wall offered more detail about the challenges he and BioWare faced completing *Mass Effect 2*, and specifically integrating the "Suicide Mission" sequence, potentially shedding light on his relationship with Hudson at the project's conclusion.
"It was the biggest mind-f***ing thing I've ever done in my entire life," Wall said. "And there was no one available to walk me through it because they were all freaking out trying to finish the game. I handed it in, and they had to do a lot of massaging on their end to get it to work, but they did it… and the result is still one of the best ending sequences to a game that I've ever played. It was worth all that effort."
Following *Mass Effect 2*, Wall composed music for *Call of Duty* games, most recently the soundtrack for *Black Ops 6*. BioWare is currently developing the next *Mass Effect* game, following the release of *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*. The composer for the upcoming *Mass Effect* title remains unannounced.
