We already know that Mass Effect: Andromeda takes place in a galaxy far far away. No, not like Star Wars far far away, Andromeda is just far away from the Milky Way. However, thanks to being so very far away, and the time it takes for space travel, the events of the Mass Effect trilogy won’t quite impact on Andromeda. But it will in some ways. Okay, let’s just let BioWare boss Aaryon Flynn explain – he makes more sense.
Speaking Eurogamer, he explained:
We want this to be a new story and it would be very hard to say it’s a new story but also that you need to understand how [the past trilogy] ended.
[…] We’ve done it in such a way that allows all of those decisions you made to remain intact in the canon of the universe, but also allows a new story to begin.
[…] There are no green-skinned people, to be clear.
Mass Effect creative Mac Walters goes on to say:
It’s important for us to have elements from the Trilogy for fans to have in the background. Ultimately this is intended to be a fresh story, but we want to have things for people to find and go ‘oh, I remember that character’.
There’s a coalition [of Milky Way races]. We needed to find a way to make sure certain species you’re familiar with come along with you on your journey to meet new ones. As in the tradition of Mass Effect, there will be certain people working together happily, and certain people working together less happily.
Okay, so the ark probably leaves before the ME3 ending, meaning that those choices don’t quite change what happens all the way off in Andromeda. I like that there will be some familiar faces and races, but that this really is a journey off into the unknown. Besides, after all the controversy surrounding the ending of Mass Effect 3, it’s pretty fitting that BioWare is working to forget about it.
As for hearing more about the game, it seems we will have to wait for quite a few more months. Don’t expect to see much coming out of Gamescom – the next time BioWare will show off anything substantial will be in November. Yet another reason for me to looking forward to N7 Day.
Last Updated: June 21, 2016
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 21, 2016 at 08:19
You know what, I’m OK with that.
New galaxy, new adventure, no Shep, yeah, clean start!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 21, 2016 at 08:25
It’s like none of the previous crew, including Tali, even existed
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 21, 2016 at 08:30
Certain people will love that, whole new loyal companions to murder
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 21, 2016 at 08:37
For some people she stopped existing. Right, D? #neverforget
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 21, 2016 at 09:01
XD
Ir0nseraph
June 21, 2016 at 08:38
I like the idea of a fresh start, a game shouldn’t be pushed past a trilogy without a very a good reason, story wise that is.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 21, 2016 at 08:40
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/227/557/Reapers.png
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
June 21, 2016 at 09:01
Same thing happened with Gears of War, Tomb Raider and now God of War. Which is a good thing thus far
HvR
June 21, 2016 at 10:16
If someone is going to take one for the team might as well be the one that doesn’t put out.
Ghost In The Rift
June 21, 2016 at 08:27
As long as they acknowledge there was a previous story i’m happy with that, now i need something to keep me busy until 2017, expect another delay so lets hope No Mans Sky can fill that hole until then.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
June 21, 2016 at 08:31
Yes, acknowledgement would be mandatory
konfab
June 21, 2016 at 08:28
I bet we will see Liara’s virtual Shepard.
Original Heretic
June 21, 2016 at 08:36
Considering the way ME3 ended, it’d be surprising if you could bring your save data along. I mean, all those choices, all the way through the whole trilogy, meant almost nothing in the end. So then why bother taking that across to a whole new galaxy, far, far away.
Matthew Holliday
June 21, 2016 at 10:50
the only choice that has any effect on the new game would be the red green or blue.
the differences between each of them would pretty much end up with completely different universes.
This may be a new universe we’re exploring, but if theyr coming from our universe, having or not having the mass relays would make a fairly substantial difference.
Matthew Holliday
June 21, 2016 at 10:59
“We’ve done it in such a way that allows all of those decisions you made
to remain intact in the canon of the universe, but also allows a new
story to begin.”
so its either during or after the reaper saga.
Which means that at some point, they will have to default to one of the endings at some point.
if its during the reaper saga, they will have to address the ending at some point. with the red ending from ME3, which is most likely going to be the option they default to, all the mass relay technology is destroyed, ship power cores, the relays etc. essentially leaving this new ship stranded in an unknown universe.
Which would make for an AWESOME story plot twist.
or its after the reapers and theyv found a new method of FTL travel, which is much more likely. its also a much simpler way to go about it.
being EA, thats far more likely.
Gareth Lagesse (eXCheez)
June 21, 2016 at 11:12
How “Mass Effect” will this game feel? Different writers and different project lead will change the feel of the game dramatically.
I think that it’s best to not have it closely relate to the pre-Andromeda games.
The Order of the Banana
June 21, 2016 at 13:16
Bioware just wants to forget about the mess that was the 3-colour ending of Mass Mehffect 3 (the worst of the Mehffects). Honestly, I doubt I’ll get Andromeda on day one, because I just don’t trust them any more.
Darren Peach
June 21, 2016 at 14:19
All that needs to happen now is a bastard child between Mass Effect and No Mans Sky.
Bruce Campbell
June 21, 2016 at 14:27
Footage found of the Mac Walters creative process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp3i1dvda2s
InvisiGhost
June 21, 2016 at 19:08
It’s a good thing it won’t use your saved data b/c they probably wouldn’t be able to tie it all together accurately anyway..I played and beat all the others and the majority of my major choices never saw anything happen later in the games..I remember one substantial part of the story (so I thought) was when I came to some kind of insect queen I let live and then absolutely nothing came of it later on. the choices you made were very much hyped up like it was all gonna come together in an epic plot but failed to deliever. Even with all that aside I absolutely loved the ME games b/c the gameplay was fun, new, creative and unique. They faultered on a few customization features in the latter games that most of us liked but was not a game killer. From the sounds of this new game I’d take it with a grain of salt by comparing it to the ME trilogy b/c it seems like it probably will be completely different..time shall tell I guess and I’ll def give it a try.