…made the games we loved, and there’s all these concerns about Anthem NEXT. It’s just not a great look. BioWare is trying to hype up its next game while the studio itself seems to be in the middle of a whole lot of turmoil.
AM: I agree. It feels like we’re in this weird holding pattern as the studio figures out what’s next, and there’s this sense that the next Mass Effect title isn’t coming anytime soon because of that. I hope it doesn’t fall into the same trap as Andromeda, trying to follow trends or latch onto an idea that just doesn’t work, instead of focusing on what the series has consistently done really well.
KS: Couldn’t have said it better myself. Honestly, I think ultimately that’s what most concerns me: BioWare’s learned enough lessons from the past few years to know that its next game needs to be a renaissance of sorts, but when you pair that with this wild N7 Day tease, it’s like, “Are you getting ahead of yourselves? Have you forgotten what’s at the heart of Mass Effect that fans love so much?” And with all this turnover in the company, how much will this all be undermined? But right now, it’s nice to think about the future for Mass Effect again after all this time. I felt like that was impossible even just a couple of years ago.
IC: Grapes can only ripen so much, so eventually it will be time to make wine. Let’s just hope the next Mass Effect doesn’t taste like sour grapes.
AM: If you three don’t stop with the wine metaphors, I’m out. But seriously, the one thing keeping me positive about all of this is that we’re clearly heading back to the series’ roots. “I’m excited for this game” levels of excited? Not yet. But I am looking forward to BioWare finally showing us its hand. No matter how long it takes, BioWare’s got me feeling like I’m all in again. And of course I’m interested in seeing whatever bears out of this N7 Day teases.
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BioWare’s recent roll out of teasers for the upcoming Mass Effect game on N7 day has left fans rife with speculation and curiosity. The short clips of a character in an N7 trench coat emerging from a spaceship onto an unnamed planet hint at a narrative involving fan-favorite squadmate Liara T’Soni responding to a distress signal in the Andromeda Galaxy. Kotaku’s resident Mass Effect nerds, Kenneth Shepard, Isaiah Colbert, and Alyssa Mercante weigh in on their thoughts and feelings about what they saw.
Kenneth Shepard, Staff Writer asks, “Does N7 Day make y’all’s blood pressure rise every year like it does mine?” The trio is both intrigued and vexed, acknowledging the teases as detailed, yet vague, hinting at the game’s storyline while leaving much to fans’ imagination.
Shepard is quick to assert that the teasers are enough to confirm certain fan fears regarding the direction of the next Mass Effect, offering slight reassurance. Colbert chimes in, sharing his excitement and concern for the upcoming game, expressing his desire for a more linear story like that of Mass Effect 2 rather than the open-world structure seen in Andromeda.
Their discussion meanders through the ambiguous marketing strategy of BioWare, leading to Shepard’s reflection on the uncertainties regarding the game’s release amidst recent setbacks and layoffs at the studio. Despite the trepidation, the team remains cautiously optimistic about the potential return to a storyline more in line with the series’ roots.
Their discussion is peppered with clever analogies likening the studio to aging grapes that can only ripen so much before they can be made into wine, showing an underlying sense of optimism amidst the uncertainty. Overall, the group is cautiously hopeful about what’s to come from these N7 Day teases.
