After much speculation, Mass Effect is officially being remastered. EA confirmed the rumours last week, meaning that Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3 will all be making their way to current and next-gen!
The original trilogy of Mass Effect is generally regarded as one of the best three-part series in video gaming history. Updated versions of the Sci-Fi RPG epics have us extremely excited.
What features will come with a revamped game are currently unknown, including whether multiplayer will return. Will online be included? We'll address the rumours and find the truth!
Enhancing perfection
Ever since Mass Effect: Andromeda released in 2017, rumours of a remastered edition of the seventh-generation games began to circulate.
Andromeda failed to live up to its preceding trilogy, leaving many to wonder if Bioware and EA would bring their favourites back with updated gameplay and graphics.
The questions of fans around the world were answered last week, as EA officially confirmed the rumours on their website on "N7 day" (November 7th):
"Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include single-player base content and DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, plus promo weapons, armors, and packs - all remastered and optimized for 4k Ultra HD."
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"It will be available in Spring 2021 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, with forward compatibility and targeted enhancements on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5."
As exciting as that announcement is, there is one thing that's noticeably missing. There's no mention of multiplayer, so will we see it?
What we know from the past
The original Mass Effect didn't feature any online multiplayer, but the sequel changed that. ME2 had multiplayer and ME3 went a step further by including co-op, so you could experience the story mode with a friend.
It would add serious value to ME: Legendary Edition if it had online multiplayer, but what have EA's other remasters been like in this department?
EA's most recent remaster is that of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. We were impressed with this title, but this was the bare minimum of what you could consider a remaster.
NFS: Hot Pursuit did include the exact same multiplayer from its original 2010 edition. This is both good and bad news for ME: Legendary.
READ MORE: NFS: EA Reveals when next-gen instalment will release
On the one hand, ME2 and ME3 did have multiplayer, so in that sense, a remastered edition should include online. However, a bare minimum remaster could mean no online multiplayer, as the story modes is enough for a full release.
EA aren't exactly a company that have the best reputation when it comes to the quality and innovation of their games. Just ask fans of FIFA.
What Multiplayer could we expect?
EA's statement didn't confirm nor deny that there will be a multiplayer mode for ME: Legendary Edition. There could conceivably be an individual multiplayer for each game or an overarching one for the trilogy.
A wave-based multiplayer making a return to the series would be a welcome inclusion.
Co-op for ME1 & 2 would be mega. That's something that would be a huge improvement upon the original games.
Either way, we're really looking forward to Spring 2021. Mass Effect are games that you can easily sink hundreds of hours into and still come back for more.
Plus, EA have also confirmed that another original Mass Effect game is in the works, watch this space!