The Mass Effect series is well-acquainted with controversy, having been the subject of it a number of times. With Mass Effect 3’s vanilla ending being dragged through the mud by fans and Mass Effect Andromeda failing to live up to expectations, BioWare’s biggest sci-fi franchise has landed in a strange spot. Now, however, EA has confirmed that a new Mass Effect game is in the works with series veterans, but where the game should be set is up for debate.
It’s a difficult spot to be in, especially as BioWare struggles with the consecutive failures of Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, both of which have garnered deeply rooted negative associations. No matter what, it’s going to take time for the developer to win back its fans, though the Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dragon Age 4 are good places to start, assuming they meet fan expectations. While the next Mass Effect undoubtedly years away, deciding which narrative thread to continue will be huge for BioWare.
As far as taking risks goes, BioWare opting to continue the story in the Andromeda galaxy would be a major one. Sadly, Andromeda has far too negative of an association now for it to be the safer route, with fans burned by the first game likely being hesitant to pick it up. That could put the game in a difficult position from the get-go, with those that felt underwhelmed the transition to the new galaxy opting to skip the game.
It would give BioWare the opportunity to right the wrongs of the first Andromeda, though, and that opens an entirely new world of possibilities. The original Mass Effect trilogy is beloved in large part due to the complex political relationships the different species hold with one another, and exploring that in the context of a new galaxy, which Andromeda struggled to do in a compelling way, could make a huge difference.
Plus, there’s still a lot of Andromeda left to be explored. Love it or hate it, there were some strong concepts in Andromeda, they just weren’t enough to keep its core audience engaged. While it was in development, Mass Effect Andromeda was meant to use procedural generation, which would have been a drastic departure from the series’ hand-crafted feel. Obviously, that didn’t pan out, but it could be a compelling way for Andromeda 2 to shake things up, if BioWare wanted to go that route.
As far as the “safe route” goes, opting to go with Mass Effect 4 seems like a better bet for EA and BioWare, though there would be some narrative hoops to jump through. Depending on the player’s choices and preparedness in Mass Effect 3, the ending, and specifically the fates of crewmates, is a bit ambiguous. BioWare has tackled these situations in the past successfully, but working a new story into the Milky Way will still present some challenges for the writers.
The biggest question is when the game would be set. Seeing the universe recover from the Reapers would be interesting, but that would present its own set of hurdles. There are tons of key locations that players would want to see again, on top of exploring how survivors are coping with the after-effects of the invasion, all of which could make for an interesting narrative.
Significantly less difficult of an option would be setting it 50 to 100 years after the events of Mass Effect 3, which would allow for the possibility of some cameos, let players see destruction in some places, and show how the relationships between each species has changed. That’s a lot of fan service, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fans are undoubtedly looking for that kind of pay off, so it may even be the best route to go.
Plus, with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition on the way, fans can get a nice refresher on the events of the original games. That would also make it easier to import save data to the game if the next Mass Effect does continue the original trilogy timeline. That’s a big bonus, and with the trilogy suddenly being fresh in the minds of so many people, it could be a natural transition between the two.
Regardless of which way BioWare decides to go, both options have their fair share of things to overcome. Specifically, it may be difficult to introduce a compelling enemy faction now that the Reapers have been dealt with, something that Andromeda struggled with, ultimately dragging down the story.
A good alternative would be to tell a more intimate story that happens on a smaller scale. Mass Effect has shown what it means to be part of a large government, but there’s an amazing criminal underbelly in the Milky Way galaxy that would be great to explore, which could likely translate to Andromeda 2, too. That would still give players the opportunity to make decisions that impact the narrative, and allow for something along the lines of a heist story.
All in all, a return to the Milky Way does seem like the better move. Fans’ trust in BioWare, unfortunately, has been diminished to some degree due to recently fumbles. However, veterans working on the next entry does bode well, and if handled correctly, it could bring the franchise back to its former glory. Fundamentally, it seems like a return to the series’ roots would be the best route to go, with a new cast of characters to back everything up.
With so few details out there, it’s unlikely that the game is far along in development, and odds are that EA and BioWare will want to ensure that the game is handled properly. Another big flop could mean huge trouble for BioWare, the ramifications of which are difficult to predict. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for a bold new entry in the franchise.
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