Mass Effect: Andromeda Delayed Into 'Early 2017', To Be Shown At EA Conference June 12th
BioWare has confirmed that Mass Effect: Andromeda will indeed be missing a release this year, and will instead be taking us to our neighbouring galaxy in early 2017.
There's a number of reasons the studio both wanted and needed more time on this next Mass Effect. First of all it's had a big jump to DICE's Frostbite engine tech, and practically everything is new content and story-wise as we leave behind Commander Shephard.
"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," blogged BioWare.
The studio's other major franchise - Dragon Age - also jumped to the Frostbite engine with Inquisition which understandably hogged a big chunk of development time as they retooled Frostbite to handle an RPG with branching dialogue and so on.
The blog update includes three major highlights for Mass Effect: Andromeda:
• 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.
They also confirm that the next Mass Effect will finally be getting more time in the public eye next month on June 12th at the EA Play press conference, days before E3 2016 kicks off at the Los Angeles Convention Center running June 14-16.
So far only a teasing announcement trailer has been released that shows off more concept than anything, but there have been the odd images or quick clips of certain systems in motion but, again, nothing concrete as to what our role is or how everything is shaping up.
