MassEffectfans hoping for a holiday surprise this year will be disappointed. The iconic trilogy’s rumored remaster has been unofficially delayed until 2021.
With the continued success of remasters and remakes of iconic titles,Mass Effecthas continued to appear in speculation. To date, neither EA nor BioWare have officially confirmed the existence of a remastered trilogy. Still, listings for aMass Effect Trilogy Remasteredleakedon a Portuguese retailer’s website earlier this month. In addition, an industry insider reported in May that the trilogy targeted an October reveal and release.
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Now, that same insider reports adjustments to those plans. According to his sources close to the project, EA and BioWare made the decision to push the remastered trilogy’s release into early next year. Supposedly, the team working on the remaster encountered serious issues with the firstMass Effect. The original’s graphics and gameplay do not meet the quality of its sequels, raising concerns that it would deter newcomers and franchise fans alike. This is unsurprising, considering how old the game now is.
The fate of theMass Effectfranchise is murky, and has been for several years.Mass Effect: Andromeda’slaunch in 2017caused some speculation that the franchise might be put to rest.Andromeda’snumerous issues, including the game’s overall quality, did few favors for a company recovering from backlash surroundingMass Effect 3’sending a few years before. Similar problems plagued BioWare’s underwhelming crack at its new IPAnthem,as well.In all, the studio’s recent history placed doubt on its long-term viability, as well as its staple franchises.
Despite fears, BioWare has reaffirmed its desire to return to the series, and a remaster makes sense. The franchise could use a reboot, in the traditional sense. A brand new console generation presents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. It’s beenseven years sinceMass Effect 3; a long time in video game terms. That’s plenty of time for a fresh audience to emerge, and a remaster avoids a fight between old games and new hardware. For the consumer, at least.
More importantly, perhaps, a remaster release early in this console generation gives BioWare fans something to tide them over.Dragon Age 4is in development, and BioWare alluded toMass Effect 5on last year’s N7 Day, but both are sure to be at least a couple years away. It’s a way to keep the brand alive and fresh, as well as give fans the chance to experience the beloved series once again.
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