It seems like every day we’re getting more rumored information on this as of yet unannounced remastered re-release of the Mass Effect trilogy.
It’s especially crazy, given how we don’t even have an official confirmation from BioWare or EA that the game even exists.
Most recently, a pair of retailers from Europe accidentally revealed a listing for the game, giving it an October release date.
We’re just a few days away from October, and we still have no word on this highly anticipated title, which is rumored to be called Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.
It is now rumored by people close to the game’s development that EA and BioWare are pushing this release into the early months of 2021.
This would make sense timeline wise, as a special art book focusing on the original Mass Effect trilogy is set to hit stores in February.
According to these sources, it’s not just the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that is pushing this game back. A lot of the delay is due to the quality of the original Mass Effect. That game is of significantly lower quality than it’s successors. It is believed that new players who don’t have nostalgia for the franchise will give up on the series immediately when they get their hands on the original’s dated gameplay.
That means fans would abandon the title and never move on to the more impressive Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.
It’s not one particular issue plaguing the original Mass Effect. Both the visuals and the gameplay are incredibly dated. It’s going to take a good deal of work to get that game up to the standards that modern players enjoy.
Of course, it is backed by a fantastic story, where choice drives action and the stakes are real. So, if BioWare can upgrade Mass Effect 1 to current generation standards they could create a true powerhouse.
Rumor also has it that BioWare will not be bringing back Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer mode. The addition of live service is likely too much of an investment for a re-release.
What will be available from the get go will be all of the downloadable content from all three Mass effect games. This includes Bring Down the Sky, Pinnacle Station, Lair of The Shadow Broker, Arrival, Citadel, Omega, Leviathan, the extended cut ending, and more.
While there’s no word on when EA will make this announcement, it seems likely that they will wait until November 7. Dubbed N7 Day by fans of Mass Effect, this fan-centric day is typically when BioWare releases new trailers and makes announcements regarding the future of the Mass Effect franchise.