Mass Effect fans, understandably, felt that the ultimate conclusion of the narrative undercut the dozens of hours of individualized role-playing that Bioware had not only delivered but actively encouraged throughout the series. The trilogy’s overarching conceit of playing in a way that suited the individual was undone in a decision that surrendered players’ agency which, while conflicting and difficult to make, bore none of the echoes of the choices made along the way.
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Mass Effect 3 and Andromeda: The Past
Bioware were apologetic and keen to make amends for fan disappointment, releasing an update that expanded the ME3 endings. The decision was a pivotal moment in the industry that showcased the power fans have over an IP’s direction, and it has come to hang over what is otherwise considered one of the best trilogies gaming has ever seen. Bioware’s expanded endings weren’t an ideal solution, but they were enough to tie the series together in a way that the original endings could not, and in time, the dust has settled on an otherwise beloved string of action RPGs.
Fast forward five years to the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda, and the excitement for the return of the series made it clear that the trilogy is still held dearly despite the misgivings about its conclusion. After a critical and consumer beating that took aim at Andromeda’s animation, bugs, storytelling, world-building, combat, and exploration, Mass Effect was shelved as Bioware turned its attention to Anthem, another ill-fated Bioware release under EA ownership that has since been given the promise of a Final Fantasy 14-esque reset.
This sequence of disappointments and unfulfilled potential has come to highlight Bioware’s greatest work in an even greater sense; many fans yearn for a return to the developer’s glory days of KOTOR and Mass Effect 2, two of the most significant story-driven RPGs ever made. While Uncharted, Bioshock, Assassin’s Creed, Batman, Borderlands, Spyro, and Crash Bandicoot, among many others, have seen the best of their respective series revamped for current consoles, Mass Effect has sat dormant since Andromeda’s promised DLC packages were canned.
Mass Effect Trilogy Remake - The Present?
On May 7th 2020, EA announced that its 2020/21 release schedule includes an unspecified HD remake, and the Mass Effect Trilogy rumor mill whirs again. Jeff Grubb, a reporter at VentureBeat, added some nitrous with the claim that this remake would be the Mass Effect trilogy’s long awaited remaster, although this has yet to be substantiated and so remains a rumor.
Assuming Grubb is correct, fans could finally get their hands on the revamped Mass Effect trilogy by Spring 2021. Now would be a really great time to remind fans (especially those who were disappointed by Andromeda) that the Mass Effect IP is capable of some incredible feats. As such, it seems more likely that EA would choose Mass Effect over KOTOR, another popular in-demand remake, particularly as now would be a great time to bring the acclaimed trilogy to a fresh audience with enhanced graphical fidelity and game performance. Not only that, but it seems EA’s Star Wars inclinations are geared more towards the Jedi: Fallen Order and Battlefront series than KOTOR for the time being.
As the Xbox Series X and PS5 grow larger on the horizon, and with cross-generation functionality confirmed for both systems, what better time to restore the Mass Effect trilogy than now? Straddling both generations would ensure there’s an optimum way to play the games for both generations, making it possible to relive or get a first taste of the trilogy on console both dynamically and with the weight of next-gen capabilities behind it. PC players will be quick to remind console gamers that the trilogy is already available on Steam with graphical settings that surpass what was seen on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but the significance of bringing Mass Effect back from the brink with a fresh release is significant nonetheless.
Having put the series on ice after Andromeda was met with poor critical and commercial performance, EA put the future of Mass Effect into considerable doubt. Whether Anthem’s failings have precipitated a resurgent interest from decision-makers to revitalize the IP is a matter for speculation, but a revamped trilogy release would be confirmation that EA, at the very least, wants to test the waters and see if the consumer appetite for more Mass Effect has held out.
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A New Mass Effect
A remaster of the trilogy could also be a sign that a new Mass Effect game is in the works and that EA is keen to ensure the strength of the original trilogy is fresh in the minds of current and potential series fans before the next sequel attempt. The odds of this being the case in the near future are slim, given that Dragon Age 4 is in development and Anthem hasn’t been abandoned by a development team that is keen to make good on its original promise and vision.
Still, bringing the trilogy into the foreground to cover the ignominy left by Andromeda (and EA’s decision to axe updates and DLC that could have saved it) would be a positive move for a franchise that holds such a special place in modern gaming history. With reports that a new Mass Effect game is in development, using a trilogy remake to fund and propel its development is a logical step forward. After all, there’s been a high demand in the remake of the original trilogy and would likely sell quite well as a result.
While Bioware works to rejuvenate Anthem, it seems likely that there are also plans to give its predecessor the glory it deserves, and Battlefront 2’s updates show EA is keen to regenerate goodwill for its franchises. All that being said, details remain so light that the HD remake could be for any one of hundreds of old EA titles or indeed for one of Bioware’s other IPs. It’s all in the air for now, but all signs point to this being a legitimate possibility, with more Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and a hopefully-redeemed Anthem being the future of BioWare.
The Mass Effect trilogy is currently available.
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