‘Mass Effect 4′ Doesn’t Involve Shepard’s Story ‘Whatsoever’ – Is It A Prequel?

Mass Effect and Commander Shepard’s story offered a gret technical achievement in interactive storytelling. So few games come close the the level of choice and adaptation that the franchise offered and even fewer, if any, on the scale of BioWare‘s trilogy. Spreading out the story across three AAA titles in a way that allowed for massive choice potential was something entirely new. It’s a story many gamers became emotionally invested in and the series enjoys an incredibly loyal fan-base. (Even if that loyalty was tested by Mass Effect 3′s conclusion)

That is why fans who feel most connected to the series’ central character might be disappointed to hear that the events surrounding Commander Shepard and the original trilogy won’t have any bearing on ‘Mass Effect 4‘.


Talking to Complex, series writer Mac Walter has ruled out any of the Commander’s influence on the new game. Shepard not being the lead character of the next game is nothing new, but Walter’s comments certainly shed new light onto what the next game in the franchise could be.

“Well, I can’t get into details, but the idea is that we have agreed to tell a story that doesn’t relate necessarily to any of the Shepard events at all, whatsoever.”

Taking the mythos of Mass Effect into account, it may be possible to discern a few things about the next game. Walter seems particularly adamant that the franchise won’t relate to Shepard’s story “whatsoever” This might suggest that the next game is a prequel or set many years after the original games. Shepard’s story is fairly all encompassing for the Mass Effect universe with Shepard also becoming a recognized celebrity. To have a game set in the same timezone, but not reference Shepard, could be a little complicated.

Mass Effect 4, for want of a better title, will also be accessible to new players jumping into the universe for the first time. All these changes and appeal to a wider audience could have loyal fans worried but Walter did assure them that even without Shepard, the next game in the franchise would still be Mass Effect.


“But throughout it all, one of the key things is that it has to be Mass Effect. It can’t just feel like a spin-off. It has to feel like a Mass Effect game at its heart, at its core. Just without the Shepard character or the Shepard specific companions.”

What would you like to see from the next Mass Effect game? Would you prefer to go backwards or forwards in the timeline? Are you sad to see Shepard isn’t going to be influencing the game at all?

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BioWare is Designing ‘Mass Effect 4′ to be Newcomer-Friendly

For a game that probably won’t be out for a couple of years, there’s plenty of hype already for Mass Effect 4, the upcoming addition to BioWare’s extremely popular and critically-acclaimed science fiction RPG franchise. Previous talk from the developers has suggested that Mass Effect 4 could either focus on one of the secondary characters from the original trilogy, or could be a completely unrelated storyline set in the same universe, but at this point most of the details are still being kept very secret.

It’s actually a little erroneous to refer to the next game as Mass Effect 4, since BioWare has previously been very firm in their assurances that the game won’t feature Commander Shepard, and that to think of it as a direct sequel to the previous games would be a “disservice.” However, until the actual title of the game is announced (hopefully the writers will go with Mass Effect: The Next Generation), we’ll continue to use Mass Effect 4 as a temporary moniker.

Last month, BioWare Montreal’ Studio Director Yanick Roy asked fans on Twitter to suggest things that they’d like to see in the teaser trailer for Mass Effect 4 (meaning that one is close to being unveiled?), and within a matter of hours had received over 200 responses. He has since continued to volunteer small pieces of information and teases in answer to some of the many questions that he’s received from fans of the series

Unless you have a serious mental block when it comes to navigating dialog trees, the gameplay of the Mass Effect series has so far not been notably difficult or confusing for those new to gaming or to the RPG shooter genre. The central threat of the Reapers, however, has spanned all three games and those who picked up only Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3 may have found themselves missing out on the many references to events from earlier games. With that in mind, cutting ties with the existing storylines could definitely make the next Mass Effect game more appealing to those who don’t want to invest 70-100 hours into previous games just to get caught up.

For LGBT gamers and those who prefer to explore same-sex relationships within the Mass Effect universe, Roy has also indicated that the developers intend to continue having the option of gay relationships. Though this has become fairly common in modern RPGs, there was a minor controversy when it was revealed that Mass Effect 3 would be the first in the series to offer same-sex relationships, so it’s a relief to hear that BioWare isn’t planning to quietly remove this option from their future stories.

Most of the questions asked have been related to the story and characters, since these are the elements that really drive the Mass Effect experience. However, when quizzed on the matter of how similar or different the gameplay would be to previous installments in the franchise. Roy said that they plan to draw inspiration from Mass Effect 1, as well as Mass Effect 2 & 3. Could this mean that we’ll see the Mako back in action and bouncing cheerfully over the surfaces of alien planets once more?

Roy is still taking questions on his Twitter account (though obviously there are some that he can’t answer), so if you’ve got a burning inquiry of your own regarding Mass Effect 4, why not take it to the studio director himself?

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‘Gears of War’ Senior Producer Joins BioWare For Next ‘Mass Effect’

Chalk up yet another significant departure from Epic Games, creators of the Gears of War franchise. After much of the senior executives left the company over the past few years, another senior producer on Gears of War: Judgment has found employment at astudio which should be familiar to fans of third-person shooters.

Epic’s Chris Wynn took to Twitter today to inform his followers that he was leaving the development studio to accept a position as BioWare‘s newest Senior Development Director for the next (still-unannounced) installment of the Mass Effect series.

After acting as one of the spokespeople during the launch of Judgment, Wynn added his name to the list of high-ranking Epic Games designers who have departed the studio since the release of Gears of War 3. First came Rod Fergusson, leaving the company to help get BioShock: Infinite to the finish line (and has since moved on yet again), and studio front-man Cliff Bleszinski himself parting ways with Epic just months later.

Although Wynn has yet to give a more in-depth explanation of his decision to move from Gears to Mass Effect, there’s no overlooking the fact that momentum in the once-mighty franchise is beginning to wane. Judgment wasn’t a bad game by any means, but as a low point for the series as a whole, we can’t begrudge any developer for jumping from that ship to what will likely be a highly-marketed, well-funded RPG in Mass Effect 4.

As we learned just weeks ago, ME4 is still in the conceptual stages, so expect to hear plenty of more additions to the development team soon. But given Wynn’s experience in a high-paced blend of third-person shooting and action, BioWare’s interest in adding him to their team makes sense. Granted, Gears may not be the most dense or elaborate role-playing experience we could name, but the similarity between ME combat and Gears has always been evident – about time it was made official.

It goes without saying that fans of the COG will have another Gears game in their future, but what changes the next next-gen Mass Effect will be making to the formula is a far more loaded question. After a promising implementation of their very own Horde Mode for online multiplayer, the bar has been set for the follow-up title. Could Wynn’s experience in the multiplayer arena be what BioWare is after, or simply newly-honed combat for the singleplayer campaign?

Only time will tell, but what will come next from Epic Games is a question that we’re just as curious to see answered. We won’t go so far as to claim that the developer is in trouble, but losing top talent only aggravates the more nagging issues (remember Fortnite?).

What are your hopes for the next Mass Effect? Is a more polished third-person shooter what you’d like to see from the series, or are you putting your hopes into possible spin-offs? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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BioWare Developers Discuss ‘Mass Effect’ Character Spinoffs & Prequel Ideas

BioWare has yet to set their popular sci-fi series Mass Effect out to pasture and while Shepard’s story has come to its end – although we don’t know how definite those statements are - the studio has started batting around ideas for games that continue exploring the series’ universe through new characters, or spinoffs with already popular ones.

We already know another Mass Effect is underway at BioWare Montreal, but whether this is a proper numbered sequel or one of the aforementioned spinoffs, isn’t clear. However, in an interview in the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine, developers Casey Hudson, Mac Walters, Dusty Everman, Mike Gable and Preston Watamaniuk discuss the future of the franchise, which just might be linked with the BioWare Montreal project.


Leading the pack in spinoff candidates is everyone’s favorite Turian Garrus Vakarian, who also appears to be a favorite of Hudson’s.


“There’s so much that could be told in the Mass Effect universe. It’d be cool to do something completely unrelated to the larger storyline, like a story about a private investigator on the Citadel. Or maybe something detailing Garrus’ time in C-Sec.”

Everman also chimed in in support of Garrus and stated a good case for further development of his story stating, “While being one of Shepard’s most loyal friends, Garrus has also had some of the most driven personal goals.” He continued, “He’s a hero in his own right, as Archangel and beyond. Who wouldn’t want to see the further adventures of the bold, charming Garrus Valkarian (there’s a lot of guns out there to calibrate).” Everman went on to say that a melee focused Krogan adventure could be “pretty exciting” as well and that Grunt would definitely be down for another scrap.

Other front-runners include Aria T’Loak, the de facto ruler of Omega, assassin Kai Leng and of course, the Illusive Man whose own name begs his character be further explored. But is it the mystery itself that makes him such an intriguing character and would expanding his past demean his character? Doubtful he’d be as popular as the “Upfront Man”? But Walters suggest that part of his story could be fleshed out as a “prequel set during the First Contact War.”

The First Contact War, the human and Turian conflict set many year before the first game, was an important period in the Mass Effect universe. It was the humans’ first contact with other intelligent life that catapulted them to recognition as an important, powerful presence in the universe. It could be interesting to see how our place in the galaxy began.

One idea that many may not have thought of is the further examination of From Ashes DLC character Javik, the last remaining Prothean, as Gamble explains.


“Following the story of Javik a little bit more would be pretty cool. As the last remaining member of a lost race, I think that we could tell a lot of stories about his adventures in the Milky Way, and coming to terms with his place in the new Galaxy.”

It’s evident there are innumerable directions that BioWare can take the series andMass Effect’s story is only limited by the developers’ imagination and willingness to explore. Whether they will star characters we know and love, or entirely new ones, we can be sure that fans’ appetite for more Mass Effect will be momentarily satiated in the near future.

So, readers, who would you like to see star in a future Mass Effect title? What part of Mass Effect’s history would you like to see explored? Let us know in the comments.

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‘Mass Effect 4′ and ‘Dragon Age 3′ Will Both Use Frostbite 3

The existence of Frostbite 3 hasn’t been made public knowledge for very long, but its power was well demonstrated during the recent Battlefield 4 unveiling. Providing gamers with some of the best visuals to be found in gaming thus far, the new engine looks as if it’ll contribute to some eye-poppingly spectacular moments in BF4. Of course, given how gorgeous the game looks, some gamers are probably wondering if Electronic Arts will implement Frostbite 3 into any of its other titles. Fortunately, the multi-billion dollar publisher will be doing just that.

According to Aaryn Flynn, general manager of BioWare‘s Edmonton & Montreal studios, both Dragon Age 3 and the next Mass Effect will make full use of Frostbite 3. This revelation came forth shortly after the grand reveal of DICE’s fourth Battlefield, with Flynn taking to Twitter to confirm that his team would be implementing the new engine with future projects; even going so far as to call the new tech “awesome” in the process.

Not much is known about either Dragon Age 3 or the next Mass Effect and, with the exception of a few pieces of DA3 concept art and leaked details, it’ll likely remain that way for a while. That said, at least fans can expect some spectacular visuals now that it’s confirmed that the pair of games will be making use of the Frostbite 3 engine – something that may come as a bit of a surprise after BioWare originally confirmed that Dragon Age 3 would use the new engine’s predecessor, Frostbite 2.

Frostbite 3 certainly looks to be one of the higher-end game engines coming to the market, and the prospect of playing through Mass Effect 4 with visuals that are on par with with BF4 is tantalizing. While the next Mass Effect is still far from hitting retailers at anytime in the near future, it’s currently believed that Dragon Age 3 is scheduled to launch in 2014. This means the prospect of both games hitting the newly announced PlayStation 4 and inevitable Xbox 720 is high, and Frostbite 3 should fit in well on either next-gen platform.

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‘Mass Effect 4′ in Development at BioWare Montreal; Edmonton Studio Working on New IP

Although Commander Shepard’s story was sufficiently (or not) wrapped up in Mass Effect 3, BioWare is not ready to give up on that universe just yet. In fact, the acclaimed developer has already revealed more Mass Effect games are on the way, but they have not said much beyond that.

At a PAX East panel, however, BioWare revealed some behind-the-scenes details that might change fans’ reaction regarding a sequel. Moreover, BioWare teased a new IP that is being developed by the original Mass Effect team.

First up, Mass Effect 3 Creative Director Casey Hudson revealed that Mass Effect 4 (or whatever the next game will be called) is in development at BioWare Montreal, not the game’s original home, BioWare Edmonton. Hudson will stay on as an Executive Producer, but the Montreal studio will be in full control.

As such, Mass Effect 4 will be a “fresh and new” experience – a new way for gamers to get into the franchise. What exactly that means is unclear, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see Mass Effect take an even heavier shooter focus.

In preparation for Mass Effect 3‘s launch, BioWare touted the trilogy-ender as approachable and a “good starting point,” which to some degree hurt the overall product. Instead of realizing it was only die-hard fans that were prepared to say goodbye to Commander Shepard, BioWare developed a game that was a series of vignettes more so than a cohesive and satisfying experience.

While we can’t say BioWare’s decision to make the game approachable factored into the construction of the game’s missions or the ending, there was still something off about it all.

Of course, with BioWare Montreal on-the-hook for the next Mass Effect, talk instantly jumped to what the Edmonton studio would be working on. Obviously the team is not ready to reveal that game just yet, but Hudson did have this to say:


“We are developing a whole new fictional universe at BioWare…that’s kind of our next thing. We’re focusing on building something new the way we did at the very beginning on Mass Effect.“

Gamers will likely be of two minds about this decision. While it’s sad to hear that the Edmonton studio will not be continuing work on Mass Effect, knowing they have a new IP in the works is exciting. Could this be the next-gen franchiseBioWare was talking about?

How do you feel about BioWare Montreal taking over the Mass Effect franchise? What new IP/universe would you like to see the Edmonton team create?

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Next Mass Effect is Not ‘Mass Effect 4′

Just under a year ago Mass Effect 3 released to critical praise and strong sales numbers. Less than a week after launch however, the positive tide quickly turned into a negative tsunami as more and more outlets (including ours) released reviews based on the complete game, knocking its conclusion for failing to make sense and/or wrapping up the key themes and character arcs presented throughout the trilogy. BioWare responded by developing free DLC dubbed “Extended Cut” to clarify the ending, but it didn’t hit the mark for the already unimpressed.

Since that point in time, BioWare has made strong efforts to listen and react to community ideas and concerns and this has shaped many of the free multiplayer content add-ons over the last year. Mass Effect Executive Producer Casey Hudson even asked fans what features and setting they’d like explored in Mass Effect 4. Now we have more evidence to suggest that BioWare will actively try to avoid directly connecting to the controversial events at the conclusion of Mass Effect 3.

BioWare Edmonton Community Manager Chris Priestly took to the BioWare forums and responded in a near-20-page thread titled ‘Mass Effect 3 Story and Campaign Discussion (Spoilers Allowed)’ where he took a defensive stance against fans assuming the next Mass Effect game currently in development in Montreal will be a followup to ME3:


To call the next game Mass Effect 4 or ME4 is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here. We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her. That is the only detail you have on the game. I see people saying “well, they’ll have to pick a canon ending”. No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda. Wherever, whenever, whoever, etc will all be revealed years down the road when we actually start talking about it.

I do not call the game ME4 when I talk about it ever, because that makes people think of it more as “what happens after Mass Effect 3″ rather than “what game happens next set in the Mass Effect Universe”, which is far more accurate at this point. Obviously fans are going to speculate content, character and story until we actually reveal details in the years or months to come as you have almost no actual details, just don’t get bogged down in “well how are they going to continue ME3…”.

The next Mass Effect, which will take the God of War: Ascension and Gears of War: Judgment route in dropping the number scheme for a subtitle, may very well be a prequel as Hudson hinted as possible, but they did say it would be respectful of the Mass Effect trilogy canon. From Yanick Roy, Studio Director for BioWare in Montréal back in November:


“While it will be very respectful of the heritage built over the course of the first three games, with the original trilogy now concluded and the switch over to a new engine, we are exploring new directions, both on the gameplay and story fronts. You can still expect the pillars the franchise is known for to be fully intact though, including diverse alien races, a huge galaxy to explore, and of course rich, cinematic storytelling.”

It’s rather evident that to avoid the negative buzz and black mark that was the ending of Shepard’s story (really, they should have adopted the Indoctrination Theory), BioWare will not be making a direct followup. They left the story and galaxy in an awkward place and the next game will either have to tell some sort of prequel or more likely, will be a spinoff with a new story set in the universe.

What would you like to see from (not) Mass Effect 4? Read our Mass Effect 4 wishlist for some of our ideas.

Mass Effect 4 will release late 2014 to mid-2015.

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BioWare’s Casey Hudson May Make ‘Mass Effect 4′ a Prequel

Though DLC is still in development, Shepard’s fight in Mass Effect has now been concluded for the better part of a year. It’s no secret that Casey Hudson, who helped pen the entire Mass Effect trilogy as an executive producer, has been looking at what fans want for the series. The possibility of a prequel has been floating around ever since the trilogy itself ended, but today Casey Hudson outright asked fans if they’d prefer a prequel or a post-trilogy Mass Effect title.

BioWare has stated the Shepard trilogy concluded with the reaper-centric showdown in ME3, meaning they have little interest in detailing Shepard’s early days. With that out of the question, there’s still a lot of open space (no pun intended) for the game to take place in. While it’s rare for gaming studios to choose a setting completely devoid of humans, there are several great historical events like the Rachni Wars, the founding of the Council or perhaps even the demise of the Prothean Empire.

Given that players were given a choice of potential endings in Mass Effect 3, it would be considerably harder to write a post-trilogy title taking all of those different scenarios into account. The downside of binary-based decision making games is that after a finite number of titles, it’s almost impossible to keep writing as even the starting scenarios are dependent on the results of thousands of older choices. With that in mind, a prequel seems like a much more viable solution for Hudson and his team to tackle.

There’s great potential in detailing massive events like the First Contact War, whereupon humanity first met other intelligent life. Due to a hostile Turian reaction to the misinterpreted actions of humans, their first contact resulted in a Turian fleet obliterating several explorers. What followed was a hostile war between humanity and the Turian armada nearly ending with the Turians sending in their entire fleet before council intervention. It’s a great point of the game’s history that would still allow for human’s to be heavily involved, and Shepard wouldn’t be a factor – though his parents potentially could feature in the game, which would be a neat tie-in.

Of course, there’s still no guarantee that Mass Effect 4 will take place before the events in the trilogy, but Hudson is certainly taking the words of fans to heart. There’s already a plethora of responses to his tweet with numerous fans vying for both sides of the table – though it’ll be some time yet before we know who wins out.

Which would you prefer, Ranters? Would you like to see the events that shaped the galaxy of the trilogy, or would you like to see the ramifications of your actions in a world post-reaper threat?

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New ‘Mass Effect’ Game ‘Respectful’ of Trilogy Canon; Playable Alien Races Possible

Following the controversial conclusion to Mass Effect 3, it wasn’t long before fans began to speculate on what BioWare has planned for the future of the franchise in Mass Effect 4. Of course, calling the game Mass Effect 4 is presumptuous at this point – since the game developer has, so far, only disclosed that they’re working on a “new Mass Effect” game. In fact, while BioWare may have some core ideas regarding where they are headed with the next series installment, development on the project is definitely still in flux.

A couple days back, Mass Effect series executive producer, Casey Hudson, put a call out for feedback from gamers – specifically asking what fans would like to see in the “new” game. Anyone following the subsequent flurry of responses to Hudson’s question quickly saw a trend in requests: Fans want playable alien races.

Responding in a new tweet, Hudson thanked everyone for their feedback – and acknowledged the increasingly popular request:

Great suggestions coming in for the next #MassEffect game. Seems to be lots of interest in playable alien races.

The recognition only further fueled the fire – as followers began to suggest how playable alien races could further enhance the unique narrative experience of Mass Effect as well as offer further gameplay customization. While the Mass Effectlead has yet to follow-up with further insights, or an official confirmation, Hudson is no stranger to how quickly the internet responds to rumors and speculation – meaning, if playable alien races were not (at the very least) a possibility or (more likely) already on the list of planned features, there’s no way that he would have publicly highlighted that specific request.

We already know for sure that Commander Shepard will not return (at all) in the next Mass Effect game – which definitely leaves room for non-human protagonist options. We already got a taste of customizable aliens in the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer arena – where certain races, like the Krogan and Vorcha, control a bit differently from traditionally human-like races, Quarians, Turians, and the Geth. While there are certainly technical hurdles to overcome, it’s hard to imagine that playable alien races would be a major challenge for BioWare – especially considering they’ve got a primarily blank story canvas.

While Hudson remains series executive producer, BioWare’s Montreal studio is set to take the lead on the next Mass Effect installment (prior games were helmed by BioWare Edmonton) – which, as mentioned, will mark a fresh chapter in the franchise. A new lead-studio, and new storyline certainly, leaves plenty of room for anxiety among fans but, in an open letter from studio-director, Yanick Roy, the developer promises a “respectful” evolution of story and gameplay in the series:


While it will be very respectful of the heritage built over the course of the first three games, with the original trilogy now concluded and the switch over to a new engine, we are exploring new directions, both on the gameplay and story fronts. You can still expect the pillars the franchise is known for to be fully intact though, including diverse alien races, a huge galaxy to explore, and of course rich, cinematic storytelling.

Gamers might get anxious when they read “exploring new directions, both on the gameplay and story fronts” but, following years of similar anxiety, Microsoft’s in-house 343 Industries developed a new chapter in the Halo series – with fresh gameplay changes and an engaging shift in story (read our Halo 4 review). Unlike 343 Industries (at the time of the Bungie transition), the Montreal BioWare studio has the added benefit of experience working intimately on story-driven campaign DLC – among other contributions to the Mass Effect series. No doubt, fans will now be looking very carefully at the Montreal Studio-developed Omega DLC  in order to determine whether or not Roy and his team are worthy of the “next” full-fledged Mass Effect.

In addition, Roy also hinted that the next Mass Effect game will easily out-do the current offerings in terms of performance and visuals – given that the game is built on EA’s Frostbite engine:


There is really not much I can tell you about the game right now, except that it will be built with the amazing technology of Frostbite as its foundation, enhanced by many of the systems that the Dragon Age III team has already spent a lot of time building.

Some gamers might be skeptical about the future of the Mass Effect series – especially after the mixed reaction to Mass Effect 3‘s ending but the pieces are in place for a compelling and fresh installment. Of course, the only way to ensure that BioWare doesn’t drop one of your favorite franchise features is to weigh-in with your Mass Effect suggestions – or, as the open letter suggests, keep an eye on the studio’s job postings!

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BioWare’s Casey Hudson Wants Fans’ Suggestions for ‘Mass Effect 4′

After receiving a considerable tongue-lashing over the ending to Mass Effect 3 developer BioWare is turning to their harshest critics for advice on where to take the Mass Effect franchise in the future. Borrowing a page from the Dragon Age 3 development team, BioWare’s Casey Hudson is looking to fans to provide some guidance on what they’d like to see in the next Mass Effect.

While Mass Effect 3 concluded the Commander Shepard trilogy of the franchise, BioWare had earlier this year revealed they still had plenty more stories to tell, and are now sticking to that claim. Though it’s unclear if this next game will be called Mass Effect 4, we do know for sure it will represent the Mass Effect brand.

The first confirmation of a development on a new Mass Effect comes courtesy of Casey Hudson, who served as Creative Director on Mass Effect 3, and has suffered a large portion of that game’s backlash. But, since it is N7 day – a chance for fans to reflect on the Mass Effect franchise, and prepare for the launch of some new DLC – Hudson thought he would clue fans into what his team is working on next.

Perhaps it’s a peace offering, or maybe it is a way to show that BioWare is listening, but Hudson took to Twitter to post this message:

Some of the many suggestions coming in from Hudson’s followers include completely reinventing the Mass Effect concept or further exploring some outside characters included in the fiction (for example in the Mass Effect novels).On second thought, probably best to avoid the most recent novel — that one didn’t go over so well.

One of the most intriguing suggestions was to make a Wing Commander-style game that is set in the ME universe. Zipping through the Mass Relays has only been something experienced in cutscenes, but could you imagine what they would feel like from the cockpit of a ship like the Normandy.

Whether or not BioWare will accept fan suggestions whole cloth is yet to be determined, but the fact that they are being more receptive in the pre-development phase hints that they have learned from past mistakes. There was a major disconnect between what fans hoped for out of Mass Effect 3 and what the game eventually delivered — even after they released a set of Extended Endings— but from here on out we hope BioWare checks in for some fan feedback from time to time.

What do you hope to see out of a new Mass Effect game? Do you think BioWare is trying to build a more collaborative relationship with their fans?

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BioWare ‘Doesn’t Want Shepard’ in ‘Mass Effect 4′

Gamers built up an army, subdued the Reapers, and wrapped up the Mass Effect trilogy this past March, and (aside from the extremely controversial ending) many enjoyed finishing what they started with the series’ protagonist, Commander Shepard. It’s no secret that BioWare plans on continuing the franchise, but no one has a clue just what’s in store for the much-anticipated Mass Effect 4.

While fans speculate on where the series will go following the events of Mass Effect 3, there’s one thing about the inevitable fourth installment that gamers can be sure of – there will be no Shepard.

This revelation was exposed during an interview between VG247 and BioWare Montreal producer Fabrice Condominas. According to Condominas, everyone’s favorite commander has had his time in the spotlight, so it’s time to throw someone/something different into the, now vacant, leading role for Mass Effect 4.


“There is one thing we are absolutely sure of – there will be no more Shepard, and the trilogy is over.”

At this point in time, the Shepard-less Mass Effect 4 hasn’t progressed that far in development, but the passing of the guard has acted as as a jumping off point for the team. As BioWare gathers ideas internally in an attempt to decide where the franchise will head to next, the developer is confident that the Mass Effect universe is vast enough to provide them with plenty of different storytelling options.


“This is really our starting point. Now the Mass Effect universe is vast, and very, very rich. So at this point in time, we don’t even know what kind of time frame we’re going to be in. All we’re doing is more gathering ideas from the teams, gathering feedback to see several things.”

BioWare doesn’t just want to simply remove the Commander and throw some other generic sap into his shoes either, and Condominas made that very clear. There will be no “Shepard 2″ in the next iteration, and that sounds like it’s for the best if the developer is truly trying mix things up with the next game.


“So first, we don’t want to make ‘Shepard 2′, or Mass Effect 4 with like, ‘oh there’s no more Shepard but you’re a soldier in the universe’. So this will be a very, very different context for sure, and nothing has been decided on the rest.”

Casey Hudson, the executive producer behind the Mass Effect series, has already mentioned that there are “a lot of possibilities” for the next ME title. Of course, gamers won’t be able to see which of these possibilities make it into the final product for a very long time, but it’s hard to not be curious about the future of the franchise.

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‘Mass Effect 3′ Omega DLC Confirmed, BioWare Working on New ‘Mass Effect’ Game

It’s certainly a hectic day at BioWare: co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have decided to retire from the games industry and pursue new challenges. Their sudden departure will no doubt worry some fans, but Aaron Flynn, General Manager of BioWare Edmonton & Montreal, brought out some news that should make Mass Effect players happy: not only is the studio working on a new, post-Shepard trilogy Mass Effect title, but single-player ME3 DLC featuring Omega is coming to consoles and Origin this fall.

Savvy gamers have actually been predicting the Omega DLC since August, when it was discovered that coding in the Extended Cut seemed to imply a visit to the fan-favorite location was on the table. Omega was a popular setting for fans, one that left the typical shiny metallic feel of most other levels behind in exchange for a rusted, decrepit atmosphere filled with hostile vagrants and mercenary gangs. Omega made our list of Most Wanted Locations for Mass Effect 3, and we’re glad to see that BioWare hasn’t let the opportunity to head back slip under the radar.

While the plot for the Omega-based DLC hasn’t been revealed, it’s likely that Shepard will be forced to perform some assignments for Aria T’Loak, the vengeful Asari who is the de facto ruler of Omega. While she’s left stranded on the Citadel, there’s undoubtedly going to be much business to take care of in her name – and perhaps some stolen technology that will aid in the fight against the Reapers. Flynn stated that the DLC is being scheduled for release this Fall, so a November window is likely for the first single-player Mass Effect 3 DLC since Leviathan.

With the Reaper plotline seemingly concluded, what’s next for the franchise?

It wasn’t just news of the Omega DLC that Flynn let loose on the world today, though. In his open letter to followers of BioWare, he also let slip that the studio is working on a follow-up (or prequel) to the Mass Effect trilogy itself.


“The Mass Effect universe is vast, and Casey and our teams have plans for another full game.”

The game is still in the planning stages right now, and may even be a prequel to Shepard’s timeline. While the official word is that the first-person shooter idea is still cancelled, the series may yet branch from its traditional third-person perspective. At this stage, the new title may as well be a kart racer – only time will reveal more about the project, though we have a few of our own suggestions for the studio.

Working on a sequel to the events of Mass Effect 3 would be a hectic task for the studio, which would have to deal with multiple endings that have gigantic ramifications for the universe of the franchise. Whether the next game will have a concurrent timeline, or perhaps even detail historical events like humanity’s infamous first contact with intelligent life (The First Contact War), is yet to be discovered. Now that the word is out that Casey is already in the conceptual phase of the project, he may have a few things to say in the near future.

What do you think, Ranters? Are you excited to head back criminally-controlled husk of an asteroid? Are you excited for the Mass Effect franchise to continue?

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BioWare: No More Commander Shepard After ‘Mass Effect 3′

Parting is such sweet sorrow. All of those players who fell in love with the Mass Effect series and its protagonist Commander Shepard knew that at some point, the space marine’s fight to save humanity from a race of murderous robots would have to come to an end. But we didn’t realize just how final the upcoming Mass Effect 3 would be. Because while the end of the trilogy will bring to close what may have been just one adventure in Shepard’s illustrious career, players won’t be seeing him in any future Mass Effect titles at all.

It’s not news to hear that BioWare has big plans for the Mass Effect series, and the game’s developers have claimed for quite some time that Mass Effect 3 would bring a satisfying end to Shepard’s trilogy. But perhaps we hadn’t realized just how final Mass Effect 3 could prove to be in terms of Commander Shepard’s time in the spotlight.

But even if other games took place in the Mass Effect universe, BioWare wouldn’t abandon a character that they had spent so much time and energy perfecting (in both genders, no less), right? Not according to producer Michael Gamble. He spoke with PC Gamer about the role of Shepard in the franchise’ future, and didn’t beat around the bush:


“After this, Commander Shepard’s story is complete.”

Gamble went on to confirm that even if there were other games set in the universe, Shepard would certainly not be appearing in them. We don’t know if this means that Shepard will absolutely die in the events of Mass Effect 3, but it certainly adds weight to that theory.

Whatever the case, fans everywhere can at least be sure that the next Mass Effecttitle will offer plenty of new experiences. Commander Shepard’s boots won’t be easy to fill, but the developer has proven that they know character development.

We’ve already spent plenty of time coming up with games we’d like to see forMass Effect 4, but considering just how much the series has changed from its beginnings it’s nearly impossible to predict where BioWare will go next. The task isn’t an easy one, with our own Rob Keyes listing more than a few potential issues. But without even a brief appearance from Shepard, it seems that the fourth game in the series will at least be able to stand on its own.

What do you think of BioWare’s commitment to leave Shepard’s story once and for all? Do you believe that this is the last of Shepard, or do you still have your doubts? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Mass Effect 3 will give Commander Shepard his last assignment on March 6, 2012 for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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BioWare Working Out Details For Mass Effect 4

What was once Game Rant’s most anticipated game of 2011 is now a Kinect-enabled title set for release a few months into 2012. The delay of Mass Effect 3didn’t phase us – after seeing the behind-closed-doors demo with Casey Hudson at E3 2011, the game is well worth the wait.

Perhaps it’s premature then to wonder what happens next? Mass Effect 3 marks the end of the trilogy and the end of Commander Shepard’s story arc. While that broad question won’t be answered for a very long time, it’s still satisfying to know that ME3 will not be our last time venturing into the Mass Effect universe.

Last January, around when Mass Effect 2 was hitting retail, BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk confirmed the obvious by stating that the Mass Effect franchise has a long future ahead, far beyond that of Mass Effect 3. The potential for the franchise, the stories they can tell, the locations and characters they can use are limitless. We pondered some ideas for what we want from Mass Effect 4 (read it) but with Mass Effect 3 still in development, now with an added delay, we didn’t expect that to be a concern of BioWare at the moment.

As it turns out however, they are already working out the details for what comes next, at least according to two of the three BioWare co-founders: Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. At E3, they went on record with the following:

Greg Zeschuk: “Certainly the setting has really resonated with people, the type of aliens in the world, the type of people that inhabit space. Obviously we focus first and foremost on nailing it on this game, and then, you know, the possibilities in the future are very, very broad.”

Ray Muzyka: “We want to make sure it’s awesome. [Mass Effect 3] is our first focus. Beyond that, we do have a desire to continue the Mass Effect franchise, and we’re working on the details, figuring out what the fans want, figuring out the right way.”

So, they’re planning ahead – no big deal, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

As anyone reading this is well aware, one of the many features that separates theMass Effect series from other RPGs is how its games tie together in every sense of the word. Each successive sequel is not just another game, it’s a continuation of what came before. Specifically, the game changes based on what you chose to do and how you acted when sranding in the shoes of Commander Shepard.

Mass Effect 2 utilized the save files from the first game (if you played on PC/Xbox 360), pulling data on hundreds of decision points, allowing for serious ramifications to how you treated your teammates, what choices you made throughout the main story and side-quests and most of all, who lived or died.

Mass Effect 3 will do the same, pulling data from both of its predecessors. This amounts to a growing number of possible outcomes and experiences gamers will face in Mass Effect 3 and it certainly does not make development of the title an easy task for BioWare.

Mass Effect Galaxy Map

With that in mind, and knowing that they’re already thinking in specifics about Mass Effect 4, does this mean BioWare is building in decisions and situations into Mass Effect 3 that will be drawn from for the next game? Will the next Mass Effectinstallment be tied down to what occurred in the Commander Shepard trilogy or will they relieve themselves of that burden and explore an entirely different story? Perhaps the end-game moment will impact the universe in some way that affects the next game, or perhaps continuing the chain of games grabbing old data is simply too much.


Would you like to see some familiar characters show up in Mass Effect 4 or will you be satisfied with something entirely separate?

Mass Effect 3 releases for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 6, 2012.

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After Shepard: What We Want From ‘Mass Effect 4′

At this point in popular culture, the concept of a spin-off has become common knowledge. A character or world created in a work of film, television, or print is seen as not only capable of providing significance to the original piece it appeared in, but also able to justify a project devoted exclusively to itself. The results can vary greatly depending on how right the creative minds were (we’re looking at you,Joey, and your Friends) but the same phenomenon hasn’t been seen to the same extent in the world of gaming. Sure, sidekicks have gotten their own titles, but rarely are they pitched and marketed to the same degree as their flagship games.

What seems to be popping up in its place is the creation of entire game worlds that offer an infinite number of story possibilities. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Dragon Age 2 are two franchises that have taken a different approach. BioWare, the team behind the world of Dragon Age 2, also possesses another property of a world larger than any one narrative. That of course, is Mass Effect.

Mass Effect, and its sequel Mass Effect 2 take place in a future where mankind has come into contact with a vast intergalactic community of different alien species, putting the player into the boots of a human soldier tasked with saving not only our own civilization, but those of our new allies.

The narratives vary, and player choices determine how much of the societies are seen. But the Mass Effect universe is the star of the franchise, a fully-realized array of alien systems and space stations, infused with technology that can allow players to bend space and time to defeat their opponents. A universe like this has more potential than any one game could ever tap, or even a single genre. Mass Effectand Mass Effect 2 are unmistakably formed around a third-person shooter foundation, with RPG elements similar to other BioWare franchises and including mini-games and moral choices added to increase the depth of gameplay.

The science fiction that BioWare has crafted can become so much more, if the world (read: universe) of Mass Effect is allowed to star in other future titles. BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk has already gone on record that the franchise will continue after Mass Effect 3, and EA has similarly expressed the same optimism for the future of the Mass Effect property. We’ve already summed upeverything we know about ME 3, but now we’re looking even further into the future.

We’ve put together a few titles that we would love to see in the Mass Effectuniverse, from slight tweaks to the formula to entirely new projects. Have a look, and join us in hoping that these dreams may one day come true:
Mass Effect: Cerberus

The pro-human military group known as Cerberus has had an interesting history intertwined with the adventures of Commander Shepard, beginning as a monstrous and heartless terrorist group that conducted experiments on humans and aliens alike. They were pure evil in the first Mass Effect and Shepard shut down several of the group’s projects in his (or her depending on the player) travels, and eventually learned that they were responsible for the loss of Shepard’s unit in one of the character’s origin stories. In Mass Effect 2, BioWare showed players the other side of the coin, where a terrorist group committed to the survival of humanity can prove to be mankind’s only hope.

While other alien races ignored the Reaper threat in Mass Effect 2, only the group’s shadowy leader, The Illusive Man, did what was necessary to protect human settlers, recruiting Shepard in the process. ME2 showed how a morally ambiguous ‘cabal’ could at times prove a necessity, but we want a game that goes the distance: give players the chance to fight for the bad guys.

Mass Effect prides itself on its moral decisions, but a large number of the choices that make up the Renegade/Paragon morality system of the series are a little on-the-nose. Giving the player a choice between ‘hearing what a character has to say’ and ‘eliminating their entire race’ may seem like a tough call, but players really only have to choose between being an evil monster – and have some content rendered inaccessible as a result – or being the good guy. There’s no doubt many players chose to turn to the dark side, – and BioWare could tell you exactly how many – but the story isn’t built to allow that shift to be as important as it could be.

A Mass Effect: Cerberus game would be built around shaping the player into a freedom fighter, willing to do horrible things for the greater good. If the player gave up their own morals for the good of mankind, then their dark actions would progress the story naturally. If the player instead chose to deny the narrative and character they were presented with, the story would be far more difficult, potentially leading to their death.

The Mass Effect series of novels paints Cerberus operatives as unrivaled in brutality and efficient killing, and a single cell can take down high value targets with incredible ease. Planning is just as important as execution, with agents often left to decide the best way of achieving a task. Adding stealth weaponry and hand-to-hand combat to Mass Effect‘s already-honed mechanics, as well as adopting a strategic approach to missions would offer a unique experience in the franchise, and place the player into an entirely new role.

Mass Effect may have given players the opportunity to follow their own moral compass, but provide a game that will incentivize morally questionable behavior, and you have a perfect companion to Commander Shepard’s epic.
Mass Effect: Origins

Fans of Dragon Age: Origins were seriously disappointed when they learned that the robust character creation system that allowed players to choose their own race, specializations, and backstory would be removed from Dragon Age 2 in favor of a system similar to that of Mass Effect. Since Mass Effect fans didn’t know any better, the customization of classes given to the human Spectre Shepard seemed like standard fare for an RPG. But now we have to think: how different would a Mass Effect game be if other races were made available.

Put the player into the role of a proud Turian, called upon to defend his planet and heirarchy from an outside invader, possibly even the humans in the First Contact War between the two species. Maybe even set the game further into the future of the universe, when the Quarians take arms against the Geth to reclaim their lost planet. Since the stories of the universe are so inter-connected, the decisions Shepard made regarding the Geth in Mass Effect 2 could even be imported to alter the storyline, creating a bridge between one character’s story and the next.

The choices for developers here are limitless, and every idea would offer a completely new and exciting experience. Now that fans are well aware of how the humans fit into the galactic picture, creating a game that puts those same players in control of a Krogan, tasked with maintaining order among the rival clans and conquering your opponents would make every game feel even more integral to the overall world.

Dragon Age: Origins gave players the opportunity to take control of any character in the protagonist’s party, but Mass Effect only allows orders to be given. The fact that we have never been given the opportunity to see the world through any other species just makes the idea that much more irresistible. If the developers really wanted to blow fans away, then give us a game that makes a playthrough with every species possible.

We aren’t talking about a simple re-skinning or change in voice actor, but a creation element on par with that of Origins. It seems an obvious idea to let eventually allow players to choose between a Turian, Quarian, Krogan, even a Salarian or Batarian role in saving the galaxy from catastrophe. Origins not only proved that it could be done, but that BioWare was capable of coming up with a great story to accompany it.

Who better to bring the same scope and replayability to the various races and societies of the Mass Effect universe?

Continue reading for our ideas on the multiplayer potential of the Mass Effectfranchise…

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