Since the conclusion of the original Mass Effect trilogy, there has been a widespread demand for a remaster within the fanbase. BioWare recently announced -- in celebration of N7 Day -- that a remastered trilogy is on its way.In a blog post, BioWare VP Casey Hudson stated, "For many months now, our team at BioWare has been hard at work updating the textures, shaders, models, effects, and technical features of three enormous games." He added, "Our goal was not to remake or reimagine the original games, but to modernize the experience so that fans and new players can experience the original work in its best possible form."
Additionally, Hudson teased that BioWare is currently exploring the future of the franchise, writing, "AÂ veteran team has been hard at work envisioning the next chapter of the Mass Effect universe. We are in early stages on the project and can't say any more just yet, but we're looking forward to sharing our vision for where we'll be going next."
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include all three video games in the trilogy along with DLC packs, all remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. The remastered trilogy will be available in spring 2021 for PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One, with forward compatibility for next-gen consoles.
The original video game trilogy began with Mass Effect in 2007. The game places players in the boots of Commander Shepard, a human soldier initially assigned to investigate an ancient Prothean beacon. Following a confrontation with rogue Spectre agent Saren, Shepard and the Normandy crew is forced to defend the galaxy from the secret threat of the Reapers. Over the course of the trilogy, Shepard's mission grows in scope and the Reaper threat becomes greater, until the galaxy's governments are forced to accept it.
Players are able to fully customize Shepard. Mass Effect was praised for allowing players to make choices that effected the outcome of the entire trilogy. However, it should be noted that the final instalment of the trilogy, Mass Effect 3, drew heavy criticism initially for its ending, with many citing the simple three-option decision in the game's conclusion. BioWare eventually released an update that provided gamers with multiple endings showcasing the impact of each choice made throughout the trilogy.
BioWare released a fourth entry in the main video game series in 2017 with Mass Effect: Andromeda. The game takes place approximately 600 years after the events of the main trilogy and follows Ryder, a Pathfinder tasked with helping the human race establish a new home in the Andromeda Galaxy. The game received mixed reviews from critics, partly due to the variety of technical issues many experienced upon the game's release.