Jun 30, 2011 16:31 GMT  ·  By

To the surprise of almost no one, BioWare is already thinking about where to take its hugely popular Mass Effect series, even if the development of the third installment, Mass Effect 3, has just been extended until next year.

The Mass Effect franchise managed to impress a lot of gamers through its role-playing mechanics and the large amount of choices players need to make while controlling Commander Shepard through his or her unique adventures.

Now, with the third game set to end the Shepard trilogy, the developer is already thinking about where to take the series next, fact confirmed once more by the co-founders of the company, Dr. Greg Zeschuk and Dr. Ray Muzyka.

During an interview with Forbes, the executives highlighted that the whole studio is working hard on Mass Effect 3, but decisions are also being taken about its future.

"Certainly the setting has really resonated with people, the type of aliens in the world, the type of people that inhabit space," Zeschuk said. "Obviously we focus first and foremost on nailing it on this game, and then, you know, the possibilities in the future are very, very broad."

"We want to make sure it's awesome. [Mass Effect 3] is our first focus," added Muzyka. "Beyond that, we do have a desire to continue the Mass Effect franchise, and we're working on the details, figuring out what the fans want, figuring out the right way."

New rumors hint at a possible Mass Effect MMO, as after the release of the third game, the studio is expected to have already finished the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic online game, so the team could easily start on a brand new project with the know-how from the old one.

As of yet, however, BioWare is extremely quiet about both the future of Mass Effect and about a release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic, so expect to hear even more outlandish rumors in the future.