Next Mass Effect Expected To Skip Open World Elements From Andromeda

Mass Effect is among the most popular names in the RPG genre, with the IP introducing Bioware to millions of people. The franchise has sold over 20 million units, and a new game is currently in the works.

Bioware aired a trailer for the next Mass Effect game at The Game Awards 2020, but the studio is also working on another Dragon Age title. The latter is the bigger priority, so details about the sci-fi franchise are limited at the moment.

However, a new rumor suggests the next Mass Effect is skipping open-world elements.

Why it matters: Open-world elements have become increasingly popular in the modern era, but open worlds are not always the best picks for every game.

During the latest Xbox Two podcast, a well-known industry insider, Jez Corden, said:

“I have heard that Mass Effect is ditching open-world to go back to its classic format.”

Following Mass Effect 3, Bioware hoped to take the franchise in a somewhat new direction.

While Mass Effect Andromeda was not fully open-world, it experimented with open-world elements. However, the game was not well-received and became a poor entry in the popular RPG franchise.

This has likely encouraged the studio to return to the IP’s roots, focusing on more linear and focused gameplay like the previous games, placing the narrative front and center.

A greater focus on elements from the original trilogy may also be featured in other parts of the game after Bioware failed to deliver a worthy successor with Mass Effect Andromeda in 2017.

In the past, Jez Corden has accurately reported on many games. Therefore, this report comes from a credible insider, but plans can always change since Bioware is unlikely to release the game anytime soon.

As Bioware continues to work toward the nearing release of Dragon Age Dreadwolf, the developer is also making steady progress on Mass Effect. The studio recently laid off 50 developers, but it claims that the development of both projects is going smoothly and remains unaffected.