Given the mixed reaction to Mass Effect Andromeda, especially compared to its predecessors, one might assume that the franchise might be shelved by EA, which a lot of people might assume given BioWare’s recent announcement that Andromeda will no longer get title updates or any form of single-player DLC.
Well, we might have thought wrong. In a recent interview with GameReactor at gamescom, EA Executive Vice President Patrick Soderlund gave is thoughts on Mass Effect Andromeda, and the future of the franchise.
Well I think, my personal opinion is, I think that the game… I usually don’t do this, but this is one of those places where I feel like the game got criticised a little bit more than it deserved. I think the game is actually a great game. Yes, we have to acknowledge the fact that there were some things that maybe we could have done better, absolutely, but as a whole, if you go in and you buy the game today with everything that’s in it today, I believe that that’s a game worth buying, personally.
Regarding a Mass Effect Andromeda 2, or a Mass Effect 5 if you will, Soderlund sees no reason why EA can’t make another Mass Effect.
So that’s the first thing I’ll say. The [second] thing I’ll say is, for Mass Effect as a franchise, that has such a big fanbase, and you know I’ve seen people saying ‘Oh, EA’s not making another Mass Effect’. I see no reason why we shouldn’t come back to Mass Effect. Why not? It’s a spectacular universe, it’s a loved [series], it has a big fanbase, and it’s a game that has done a lot for EA and for BioWare.
Soderlund did admit that EA needs to be more "careful" whenever they bring Mass Effect back again, and that it’s really in a "fresh" way. I’d say that’s spot-on on assessment from EA, but maybe, y’know, make it not have funky animations and not be full of bugs next time?
Do you think we’ll see a Mass Effect this console generation? Maybe next? Or will we have to wait 10 years to see the franchise fly out again?