Mass Effect 3 demo dropping in January, includes singleplayer and multiplayer (if you buy Battlefield 3)

We know what you're thinking. You finished Mass Effect 2, dropped the controller, and said aloud, "Wow, that was one of the best games I've ever played, and I really feel connected to the epic story. And what an ending! But I'm not sure I'm going to see the series through because there might not be a demo for the next game." It's fine. We're sure there are plenty of die-hard Mass Effect fans still on the fence when it comes to Mass Effect 3. Well, there's good news: anyone still undecided will be able to download a pre-release demo in January to get an early taste of Mass Effect 3 goodness. Phew! Dodged that bullet...

Mass Effect's official Twitter (Commander Shepard's favorite Twitter on the Citadel) posted the news just minutes ago, confirming not only that the demo would come out, but that it would be out before release, and it would include singleplayer and multiplayer gameplay. Odds are this is at least in part related to the cold reception multiplayer has gotten, as well as fears expressed by some fans that the inclusion of said multiplayer will have undoubtedly kept BioWare from spending the time necessary to create an appropriate singleplayer campaign.

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UPDATE: There has also since been a post on the forums that explains some more details. While the singleplayer will be available for everyone, the multiplayer will be locked. There are two ways to unlock it: you can either redeem the online pass that comes in Battlefield 3, or you can... do something else. They haven't said exactly what that something else is; all they've confirmed is that the second method will allow "fans of the Mass Effect" to get early access to this multiplayer content, and that there will be more information in the coming months.

But we've a feeling most of you will just skip the demo's singleplayer. Odds are you won't be playing as your Shepard in the first place, and it's not like the choices you make will carry over. If anything, it will just spoil a small chunk of the game for you, something we're going to opt out of. The multiplayer, on the other hand...

Oct 20, 2011