I was late to the Mass Effect party. Maybe it was the space setting, or the fact that I didn’t have an Xbox when the first game shipped, but I only played the Mass Effect trilogy for the first time a few years ago. It aged so well, was such an impressive approach to gameplay, exploration, storytelling and character development that I absolutely adored it. Of course that meant that I’ve been hanging on every detail about Mass Effect: Andromeda, and this latest update gives me hope for the new game.
Aaryn Flynn, the General Manager of BioWare, released an update on the game assuring gamers that the team is building on what everyone loves about the Mass Effect franchise and taking it to new heights. The new features he lists are:
- More Freedom: One of our biggest ambitions is to give players an unprecedented level of freedom for a Mass Effect experience –where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and how you’ll play.
- New Uncharted Worlds: We’re leaving the Milky Way behind and headed to Andromeda, where we’ll meet new allies, confront new enemies, and explore fascinating new worlds.
- The Next Great Mass Effect Experience: Mass Effect: Andromeda will be the first Mass Effect game for today’s consoles and the first built on the Frostbite engine. We’re pushing the technology to deliver visuals, story, and gameplay that have never been done in franchise history.
I am really excited to be leaving the Milky Way behind to explore new parts of the universe, and I’m also amped to see how the Frostbite engine helps the team make the game better than ever. However, it’s his final paragraph that gives me the most hope for the upcoming game.
As we’ve been playing the game at the studio recently, it’s showing us that we’re taking the game in the right direction. But we also know we need the right amount of time to make sure we deliver everything the game can be and should be – that’s our commitment from all of us to all of you. Because of that, Mass Effect: Andromeda will now ship in early 2017. We can’t wait to show you how far we’re all going to go. We’ll see you at the EA PLAY press conference on June 12, with an update.
The fact that the game is in a state where’s it’s not just playable, but playable for the studio as a whole, means that’s it’s already quite far along. They will be showing it off during the E3-timed press conference, and if it’s already that playable we might even see some hands on previews in the coming months at the various games conferences. But, BioWare knows not to release the game before it’s ready, and the update already says that they need the necessary time to make the game everything it can and should be. For now, they’re saying it will ship in early 2017. That’s vague enough that they don’t need to officially delay the game if it takes a bit longer, but still gives me hope that by this time next year, I’ll have already completed my first play through of Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Last Updated: May 11, 2016
Dutch Matrix
May 11, 2016 at 08:41
Just as long as it still has Krogan, Assari and The Borg, I will be happy.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:07
Lol Borg
Dutch Matrix
May 11, 2016 at 09:26
One can hope…
Kromas untamed
May 11, 2016 at 12:51
I believe you also missed species 8472. 🙂
Brian
May 11, 2016 at 09:06
“More Freedom”
Hopefully this is not going to be another single player MMO-style title with 100+ copy/paste worlds and generic missions.
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 09:10
Fly here, discover that, collect X amount, kill X amount, return….. Rinse and repeat.
Strawman Jim
May 11, 2016 at 11:49
Re-play older missions to grind towards shitty gear! NO THANKS! NO MORE!!!
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 12:10
Like scanning 100 planets to get the resources you need for that next ship upgrade? Revisiting already scanned, just in case you missed that one sweet spot.
Yeah there are things in ME that I hated. The ending wasn’t one of them.
Strawman Jim
May 11, 2016 at 11:49
Godbear… I hope not. If it’s anything like Destiny or the Division (with their “social experiences over fun gaming”), I’m skipping it.
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 09:08
With Vulkan and the new Graphics cards releasing soon, this game will run so smooth.
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:13
My GTX560 says hi. My Bank account is keeping it prisoner inside my pc case. It’s a hostage situation, but no demands have been made and no police intervention has been successful. Stale mate continues.
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 09:21
I think this sounds more like a Stockholm syndrome case. Your 560 fell in love with your empty bank account because as soon as there’s cash in it your 560 will be sent back to the shit bin for reprocessing XD
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:23
I’m just the landlord hoping to get rid of the 560. Fucker just won’t leave and that fucking bank account. Fucking bank account. I blame it all on that guy.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:18
Can’t wait to get my RED/GREEN/BLUE on!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 11, 2016 at 09:24
Did you see the news? You’ve got a week left to farm Skobbejak P, Wurm P & Stok P.
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:26
So I completely understand the Red & Blue. AMD = Renegade/Asshole. Intel = Paragon/Saint. But that green? Red + blue = purple, so it can’t be neutral. I just, I have no explanation for Nvidia.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:28
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0zifadD8B1r5rba7.jpg
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:28
https://pwnersmanual.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/video_game_memes_43.jpg
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:29
Still salty about that? Seriously?
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:30
Not in the least, just explaining my comment.
And I wasn’t salty about it in the first place
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:31
Thank the Gods, or whoever you believe in. Reapers. Whatever.
I loved the ending. It was brilliant. Anyway.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:31
It was a good ending, finishing Shep’s tale
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 09:32
I just think people hate an anti-climax, even when it’s philisophical and amazeballs. It was easily the best ending sequence. I still remember limping to that portal the first time, fond memories.
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 09:44
Limping through that section….was horrible, so damn horrible, my hero, was all but moertoe, still soldiering on, all moertoe, through that horrible tunnel, man, what a feeling.
ALMOST as bad (and by bad, I mean making you cringe and coil from horror) as the WP scene in SpecOps
Strawman Jim
May 11, 2016 at 11:56
I will never forget! Never forgive!!!
http://www.nerdlikeyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/me3-marauder-shields-never-forget.png
Strawman Jim
May 11, 2016 at 11:47
Just so long as it’s not “always online”. Death to the scourge of “Always Online” games. #ForeverSP #Hashtags #Potato #ErwinIsALittleGirl
CypherGate
May 11, 2016 at 15:34
Mass Effect Andromeda!
chimera_85
May 12, 2016 at 15:52
Bring on EA PLAY I’m gonna jizz in my pants hahaha