BioWare says next entry in series not expected for years; original Mass Effect 3 ending scrapped for being too generic.
Gamers holding out for the next Mass Effect may want to get comfortable. A BioWare representative told GamerSyndrome that it is planning to releaseMass Effect 4, or whatever the game will be called, in the window of late 2014 to mid 2015. A more specific release window was not provided, as "full development" on the game began just a month or two ago. More details on the next Mass Effect will be divulged in 2013, BioWare said.
The next Mass Effect is in development at BioWare Montreal, after BioWare Edmonton created the first three games. The game will run on the Frostbite Engine, and though it will be "very respectful" of the franchise's history, BioWare is pursuing "new directions" for the series with regards to gameplay and story. BioWare had previously confirmed that Commander Shepard would not return. The company recently asked fans if they would prefer a prequel to the original trilogy or a sequel.
BioWare also recalled development of Mass Effect 3 in the interview, saying that the original Mass Effect 3 ending was cut because it felt too generic. Some spoilers below.
"We also scrapped the original ending for Mass Effect 3," BioWare said. "We were gonna have it as a 'boss battle,' where Commander Shepard would go up and fight The Illusive Man who has been transformed by The Reapers. We scrapped that idea because way too many [games] have that as their ending, some final boss fight."
Elsewhere in the interview, BioWare talked about support for Wii U. When Mass Effect 3 arrived for Nintendo's new console, fans may have been dismayed that add-on content like Omega and Leviathan was not available, nor was the original Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2. BioWare teased that more Mass Effect content may be on the way for Wii U.
"Wii U is a console we feel is really cool and that more Mass Effect would look great on it, so we do have plans for Wii U but nothing to announce at this moment," the company said.
