14 DAY TRIAL // More information regarding the next installment in the Mass Effect series was revealed during the San Diego Comic-Con, pointing to a return of the Mako and setting the approximate timeframe to be the same time period that the first three games took place in.
Developer BioWare and publisher EA’s E3 2014 reveal was underwhelming to say the least, with only a handful of concept art pieces and some very brief quotes regarding the upcoming game’s universe being the only morsels of information offered to the public, ending with the promise that more will be unveiled over the course of 2015.
Now, the two companies decided to tease fans of the series a little more, by talking about their plans for the future of the Mass Effect franchise, during a panel held at this year’s edition of the San Diego Comic-Con.
Although the panel focused more on general concepts rather than specific details, it also included some useful information. First of all, BioWare revealed that the upcoming game’s action would be set during the same timeframe as the original trilogy was, but would not feature Commander Shepard.
The developers did not entirely rule out the possibility for players to run into familiar locations, but since the game’s focus will be the exploration of a vast universe, nothing is set in stone yet.
They did, however, confirm that players would get a chance to pilot the Mako again, the all-terrain assault vehicle from the first installment in the series.
Additionally, the panel also included some fresh pieces of concept art, revealing the new N7 armor sets that players will don, in both male and female flavors. It is now unclear whether players will be able to assume a predetermined identity like in the first three games, or whether they will be able to write their own story, with a completely new character.
But the reveal points to players assuming control of a N7 operative, which could put a nice twist on things. N7 is the highest designation in the Interplanetary Combatives Training program, only awarded to the most proficient soldiers who display both great personal combat prowess as well as outstanding leadership capabilities.
The developers also mentioned that the upcoming game’s multiplayer focus was geared more toward cooperative rather than competitive action.
Mass Effect 4 currently has no release date, and there is little hard information on the title so far, but we’ll come back with more as soon as it becomes available.
