Mass Effect: Andromeda Sequel 'Uncertain'

article image

There's even more trouble in our neighbouring galaxy as Mass Effect: Andromeda's reception has given EA pause and reportedly the IP is now 'on ice'.

According to a write up by Kotaku, the developer of Andromeda - BioWare Montreal - has been downsized with staff being moved to other BioWare houses to assist with other projects. The Montreal studio is said to now be fulfilling a 'support role'.

That support is being lent to BioWare Edmonton's new sci-fi IP - codenamed Dylan. It's the 'live service' game in the works that was recently announced as delayed into Electronic Arts' next fiscal year, which means it will arrive some time after March 2018.

The critical reception of Mass Effect: Andromeda has been mixed but overall is considered lukewarm. The sci-fi 'reboot' for Mass Effect is considered to have a so-so story and lacklustre dialogue that's further bogged down by technical bugs and corner-cutting production such as the glaringly bad animations and characters.

This doesn't signal an end to Mass Effect as a franchise but EA appear to want a period of reflection for the future of the IP which has served them very well with the original trilogy and helped catapult BioWare to new heights. BioWare still has a new Dragon Age RPG in the works with the sequel to Inquistion expected to take place within the lands of the Tevinter Imperium, a slave-holding empire long since past its prime.

It remains unclear whether this 'on ice' decision for Mass Effect and the new support role for BioWare Montreal means DLC expansion plans for Mass Effect: Andromeda have been downsized or outright scrapped.

Mass Effect: Andromeda releases on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in March 2017.

Mass Effect: Andromeda
The Mass Effect series is returning with the fourth entry in the massive space opus. Explore the galaxy and interact ...
Release Dates
21 Mar 2017-PC
23 Mar 2017-PS4
21 Mar 2017-Xbox One
568
back to top
x