Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Prime Day Deals
  • Superman
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Mass Effect 5: What appears to be Liara appearing in the first teaser for the Next Mass Effect game
Mass Effect Mass Effect 5: Everything we know so far about the new BioWare adventure
Mass Effect Lens Flare
Mass Effect Mass Effect 5 director hints that the sci-fi RPG series' notorious lens flares will be back in the next game, as BioWare apparently goes head-to-head with JJ Abrams
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Action RPGs Mass Effect 5 director reacts to The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a new sci-fi action RPG reminiscent of BioWare's own beloved series: "Looking pretty awesome"
Borderlands 4 Timekeeper concept art
Borderlands "It is a turning point in our universe": Gearbox explains Borderlands 4's deliberately less-stupid story, and it feels weird to actually be interested in a Borderlands plot
Fallout 5: A picture of Vault Boy giving a thumbs up in front of a closed vault from the Fallout games.
Fallout Fallout 5: Everything we know so far, and what we hope to see
a human in a space helmet with bright blue shards of crystaline protomolecule erupting from their mouth and visor
Action RPGs Upcoming sci-fi action RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn isn't just inspired by Mass Effect, but Baldur's Gate 3 and Soulslikes, and it's even "a little bit similar" to Persona 5
Action Shows Amazon's Mass Effect TV show is moving forward with Star Trek writer as showrunner
  1. Games

Mass Effect 4 Where we want to see the franchise go next

Features
By Hollander Cooper published 7 March 2012

We explore where we want Mass Effect 4 to explore

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The future of Mass Effect

The future of Mass Effect

The Mass Effect trilogy has come to an end, and what an end it was. BioWares sci-fi franchise reached heights we never thought it would, achieving the highest levels of interactive storytelling.

And now, its time to look towards the future. Though BioWare hasnt commented on the future of the franchise, weve cooked up some ideas for things wed like to see in new Mass Effect games.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
It should be a prequel

It should be a prequel

We dont really know which of Mass Effect 3s many endings is canon, and the galaxys future could be dramatically different depending on the choices each player made throughout the series. Theres no way BioWare can keep up with all of the different decisions gamers made over three games (were amazed it pulled it off with two), so, in favor of keeping our canon in-tact, we suggest they go backwards.

There are tons of stories to tell in the past, and even if we know how they end up wed still like to see how they played out. The Rachni Wars, for instance, would be an interesting change for the series, as would some of the different battles Anderson talked about. Go back, not forward, and BioWare doesnt need to worry about whether or not we killed Wrex or not.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
The plot should be less dramatic

The plot should be less dramatic

Mass Effects epic trilogy was well, epic. Every mission required the player to save the galaxy from ancient, evil threats that could very well wipe out all life. Been there. Done that.

The next games story should be more personal. Plenty of fantastic games have made plotlines about saving someone who has been kidnapped, or killing an old rival for revenge. Lets take a step away from cataclysmic apocalypses and experience a more sedated, individual story. Save the end of the universe stuff for Mass Effect 5.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
It should be an RTS or an RPG or an FPS

It should be an RTS or an RPG or an FPS

Weve had three games of cover shooting as Commander Shepard, but the interesting thing about the Mass Effect universe isnt the guns, its the lore. The people. The aliens. The planets. These would all make for more interesting games outside the realm of cover-based shooters.

Give us control of an entire army and make a Mass Effect RTS. Blizzard managed to shove some amazing story into StarCraft II, and even included some decision-based segments. It feels like something along these lines would work well for the futuristic world of Mass Effect.

Heck, we wouldnt even mind a full-blown RPG. BioWare proved that it was capable of doing turn-based combat with the Nintendo DS Sonic RPG, maybe the next game in the series could play up the RPG and tone down the action.

We also think a survival horror FPS would work. The universe is a scary place, after all.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
...or it should be an MMO

...or it should be an MMO

If BioWare really wants to go crazy with the universe, though, there's no better medium than an MMORPG.

For as much as we loved The Old Republic, we couldnt help but wonder how much better it would have been if BioWare had made its MMO set in Mass Effects universe instead. With SWTORs launch out of the way, maybe BioWare can start rolling towards the next iteration of the Mass Effect franchise being a persistent online one.

BioWare should take advantage of the foundation laid with The Old Republic, with story missions being interwoven between MMO quests. If they do go this way, though, wed like for the combat and gameplay to be closer to what we already have in Mass Effect. That works. Don't mess with it too much.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
It should be one self-contained story

It should be one self-contained story

It must have been extremely hard to make choices in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 flow into Mass Effect 3. Were not sure BioWare is in the mood to have three more games of choices so why not wrap them all up in one game?

Mass Effect 4s plot should be as branching as Mass Effect 3's, with different plot twists and turns that live and die depending on your choices. The original Mass Effect trilogy was a proof of concept for decision-driven narrative for the developer, now it needs to see if it can create the same kind of customized experience on a game-by-game basis.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
It should star a Krogan

It should star a Krogan

The Krogan are a proud, powerful race in the Mass Effect universe so powerful, in fact, that they were used as a weapon of sorts in the Rachni Wars (see: a war against the bugs from Starship Troopers). But after the war they didnt put down their weapons and go home. The Krogan are strong, and began expanding their numbers dramatically, waging war on the rest of civilization.

To keep them in check, other alien races developed the genophage, a virus that targeted their reproductive capabilities.

Why is that important? Because it illustrates the most important fact about the Krogans: theyre crazy awesome. All of the highly-advanced alien races cowered as the Krogan marched their forces around the galaxy, and eventually had to neuter them, since they couldnt go toe-to-toe with the powerful, reptilian soldiers.

We want to play as them. We want to play an entire game from the perspective of a Krogan, either during the Rachni Wars, during the wars right after where the Krogans kicked the butts of every other race, or even after that. Theyre a warrior race, and we think that playing as a young Krogan soldier who rises up the ranks to become a powerful warlord would be an absolute blast.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
...or an Elcor

...or an Elcor

Sadness. We really feel as though the Elcor were underutilized in the Mass Effect universe. They were introduced, but never used as anything besides occasional comic reliefs. Disappointment. In Mass Effect 3 we thought wed get a chance to interact with them more, but every Elcor mission was relegated to planet-scanning, keeping us off the Elcor home world entirely. Crippling depression. It was sad.

Excitement. So lets make sure that sadness doesnt repeat itself by including playable Elcor in Mass Effect 4. Passionate. In ME3 it's said that the Elcor fight by attaching powerful weapons to their backs, lumbering around like organic tanks, and that would make for an awesome game. Sincerity. Dont you agree?

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
No matter what it is, it shouldn't come out for a few years

No matter what it is, it shouldn't come out for a few years

The Mass Effect series is one of our favorites of the generation. Heck, its one of our favorites of all time. We loved learning about the different races, exploring distant planets, and being completely immersed in a realistic, fully-realized universe that actually felt different from what we were used to.

And now its time to take a break. No matter what Mass Effect 4 is, we hope BioWare takes its time on it, releasing it a few years into the next generation instead of forcing it out within a few years. If it takes its time, Mass Effects return can be a huge deal, and we want it to be a big deal. We love this franchise too much to see it milked to death.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Hollander Cooper
Hollander Cooper
Social Links Navigation

Hollander Cooper was the Lead Features Editor of GamesRadar+ between 2011 and 2014. After that lengthy stint managing GR's editorial calendar he moved behind the curtain and into the video game industry itself, working as social media manager for EA and as a communications lead at Riot Games. Hollander is currently stationed at Apple as an organic social lead for the App Store and Apple Arcade. 

See more Games Features
Read more
Mass Effect 5: What appears to be Liara appearing in the first teaser for the Next Mass Effect game
Mass Effect 5: Everything we know so far about the new BioWare adventure
Mass Effect Lens Flare
Mass Effect 5 director hints that the sci-fi RPG series' notorious lens flares will be back in the next game, as BioWare apparently goes head-to-head with JJ Abrams
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Mass Effect 5 director reacts to The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a new sci-fi action RPG reminiscent of BioWare's own beloved series: "Looking pretty awesome"
Borderlands 4 Timekeeper concept art
"It is a turning point in our universe": Gearbox explains Borderlands 4's deliberately less-stupid story, and it feels weird to actually be interested in a Borderlands plot
Fallout 5: A picture of Vault Boy giving a thumbs up in front of a closed vault from the Fallout games.
Fallout 5: Everything we know so far, and what we hope to see
a human in a space helmet with bright blue shards of crystaline protomolecule erupting from their mouth and visor
Upcoming sci-fi action RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn isn't just inspired by Mass Effect, but Baldur's Gate 3 and Soulslikes, and it's even "a little bit similar" to Persona 5
Latest in Games
Xbox 360
Former Xbox boss says Microsoft was "disadvantaged" before the Xbox 360 era where it was able to "flex its muscles" in third-party gaming: "Having developers feel good, make money on your platform was key"
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail Futures Unwritten Ultimate raid
Final Fantasy 14 director Yoshi-P admits recent raid was "a misstep in development" that "wasn't meant to be hardcore," says Square is "trying to satisfy both" casual and hardcore MMO players
Elden Ring Nightreign Gaping Jaw
I hope you're ready for round 2, because Elden Ring Nightreign is bringing back 3 weeks of mega-bosses – except this time they come in pairs for more varied pain: "F*** my life"
The Last of Us 2
The Last of Us Part 2 is fast becoming Sony's Skyrim: Naughty Dog has come up with yet another excuse to revisit it – a "chronological experience" update that rearranges the story
Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder running alongside spectral hawk at the start of an expedition
I hope you're not squeamish, because Elden Ring Nightreign lets you find and loot your own corpse to steal back your best gear on your next run: "I couldn't have even imagined that was possible"
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) screenshot showing Darth Vader walking through a hangar flanked by two stormtroopers
I've spent 11 hours fighting AI in EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2, and it's taking me back to the glory days of PS2 skirmish modes
Latest in Features
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) screenshot showing Darth Vader walking through a hangar flanked by two stormtroopers
I've spent 11 hours fighting AI in EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2, and it's taking me back to the glory days of PS2 skirmish modes
Dollman is lost in thought in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
This is now a Dollman fan account: Death Stranding 2's puppet pal makes for my favorite PlayStation duo since Ratchet & Clank
Agent 47 on a mission in Hitman: World of Assassination
I'm loving Hitman: World of Assassination on Switch 2, but the game's always-online requirement is worse than ever
Kaizen: A Factory Story key art featuring a production line making a toy electronic
"Make games and die. That's my plan": Coincidence's Zach Barth on making games about making things, a year of teaching, and being in it for the long haul
Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Cyberpunk Edgerunners season 2: Everything we know about CD Projekt Red's anime
Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts
Marvel Phase 5 closes a weird, ramshackle chapter in MCU history – and shows what Marvel needs to get right in Phase 6
  1. A Gundam style mech in Mecha Break
    1
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  2. 2
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  3. 3
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  4. 4
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  5. 5
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...