Bioware has confirmed that having a saved ending of Mass Effect 3 on your console will do nothing for your gameplay experience of Mass Effect: Andromeda. A press release from Titan reads:
“The novels will act as prequel and sequels to the events in the games and will become part of the overarching Mass Effect saga. They will focus on key characters and answer the many questions fans have been asking."
The first of four, planned canonical tie-ins will be released this August with Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiative, written by N.K. Jemisin (The Inheritance Trilogy, Broken Earth saga). The complete schedule is as follows:
August 2016: Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiative (N.K. Jemisin)
March 2017: Title Unknown (Author Unknown)
September 2017: Title Unknown (Author Unknown)
March 2018: Title Unknown (written by Mass Effect director Mac Walters)
Do you feel this is a missed opportunity by Bioware? Gamers are already voicing concerns that they're fearful that Andromeda won't make sense unless you've read the stories. But more importantly, they're lamenting the fact that they won't get to experience the connection through actual gameplay. In the comment section below, let us know if you're excited about this atypical approach from Bioware or if this news raises your own concerns.
Mass Effect: Andromeda is expected to be released in 2017.