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. Wall collaborated with BioWare on the iconic 80s-inspired scores for 2007's *Mass Effect* and 2010's *Mass Effect 2*. *Mass Effect 2*, frequently lauded as one of the greatest action RPGs ever, features Wall's acclaimed soundtrack, including the memorable "Suicide Mission," a fan favorite and series highlight.
Wall's absence from the *Mass Effect 3* soundtrack in 2012 surprised fans. A new interview with *The Guardian* sheds light on the situation, attributing the departure 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, though 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 in completing *Mass Effect 2*, and specifically the "Suicide Mission" sequence, potentially offering insight into 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 *Black Ops 6*. BioWare is currently developing the next *Mass Effect* game after *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*, but the composer remains unannounced.
