More details keep emerging about Mass Effect: Universe, the planned fifth mainline entry in the Mass Effect franchise that BioWare was developing before EA closed the studio on Wednesday. EA laid off BioWare staff and canceled what fans have long called Mass Effect 5. An internal trailer using pre-production assets emerged the next day, offering fans a look at what could have been, including potentially the series' first male Quarian squadmate.
On Friday, YouTuber Dantics spilled the beans on what feedback he allegedly provided during Mass Effect: Universe's development as part of a "Mass Effect Council." According to a subsequent Kotaku report citing an anonymous source, the details Dantics provided are accurate. Mass Effect: Universe would have taken place over 600 years after the events of the original trilogy, which is not-so-coincidentally the same amount of time the trip from the Milky Way to the Andromeda galaxy took in Mass Effect: Andromeda. You'll recall that previous N7 Day hints teased a possible connection between the next Mass Effect and Andromeda, and the leaked details double down on that connection.
Instead of a large-scale war like in Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect: Universe would have been about a "galactic Cold War" between different factions. Humans, Krogans, and Batarians would be allied as a faction, Council races allied as another, and the Geth as a third power in the galaxy. Presumably the Council races mentioned are Turian, Salarian, and Asari — perhaps humanity broke off from the council at some point, as humanity gaining a Council seat is a large plot point of the original trilogy.
The playable character in Mass Effect: Universe would have reportedly been a customizable N7 agent and a "cross between John Wick and James Bond." Levels would be "handcrafted" and offer "Hitman-style freedom" in how players approached them. Experimental tech would have given the playable character hacking abilities like similar to Cyberpunk 2077 and a new way to approach levels. Here's everything Dantics had to say about Mass Effect: Universe, taken from his post on X: • Instead of being a walking gun rack, you're a cross between John Wick and James Bond • Shepard's legacy preserved, regardless of your ending • A galaxy divided into three major factions • Humanity, Krogan, Batarians, and more allied together • Council races forming their own alliance • The Geth emerging as a third superpower • A galactic Cold War instead of another Reaper style invasion with a shadowy adversary • Connections between the Milky Way and Andromeda • Experimental technology implanted in you as a unique point of difference • Hacking and manipulating the environment • See through walls, identify systems, remotely trigger hazards and more • But with Hitman-style freedom in how you complete them • Squadmates who can clash with each other • Liara returns - now an incredibly powerful Asari Matriarch A lot of this sounds plausible, but also like information any Mass Effect fan could have gleaned together from their knowledge of the series, the various teases over the years, and the leaked Mass Effect: Universe trailer.
At the very least, it sounds like Mass Effect: Universe would have been an exciting continuation of the series. As Dantics said he was part of some sort of community group providing feedback to BioWare, we'll have to wait and see if more "Mass Effect Council" members pop up to corroborate this information or supply new details about Mass Effect: Universe.
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