Mass Effect Andromeda plot details reveal a big change for the series

Looks like we have a plot for Mass Effect Andromeda. One that quite a bit different from what you might have been expecting. Forget intergalactic wars for all life in the universe - how about trying to find a new home for humanity.

This is the plot spiel apparently leaked via some user surveys via Reddit and NeoGAF:

Mass Effect Andromeda takes players to the Andromeda galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way, where players will lead the fight for a new home in hostile territory - where WE are the aliens - opposed by a deadly indigenous race bent on stopping us.

Experience the freedom to traverse and explore a planet-dense but seamless open-world galaxy, rich with discovery. Play as the leader of a squad of military-trained explorers in an intense third-person shooter, with deep progression and customisation systems.

This is the story of humanity's next chapter, and player choice throughout the game will ultimately determine out survival in the Andromeda Galaxy.

This sounds like quite the departure from what we're used to and raises a lot of questions. Is it a different time period to explain mankind's sudden homelessness? Are we a migrant fleet now like the Quarians?

Now this might not be final: it's a survey after all and most of the questions from EA seem to be along the lines of 'do you like this?'

While it sounds like a very different set up it seems like it's trying to take the core ideas of the series - combat, exploration, ALIENS - and apply them to different ideas. Which actually sounds pretty exciting - would you really want the same massive space war again?

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Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.