BioWare internally discussed remastered Mass Effect games for next-gen consoles

[spenser.d]

BioWare developers have internally discussed the possibility of bringing the original Mass Effect trilogy to next-gen consoles with remastered editions, according to a tweet from Edmonton and Montreal studios' general manager Aaryn Flynn.

 

Responding to a fan question on Twitter, Flynn said solid plans for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of 2007's Mass Effect, 2010's Mass Effect 2 and 2012 finale Mass Effect 3 have yet to form, but BioWare will share details when possible.

 

"We have discussed that internally," Flynn wrote of a trilogy remastery. "If we can put solid plans together we'll share. Great to hear you're keen."

Polygon has reached out to Flynn and BioWare for more details and will share them as they are received.

 

The original Mass Effect was initially published exclusively to the Xbox 360 and was later ported to Windows PC and PlayStation 3. The sequel was released on PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC, while Mass Effect 3 launched on all previous platforms in addition to the Nintendo Wii U. In Nov. 2012, BioWare released a bundle of all three games in the Mass Effect Trilogy Edition for Windows PC and Xbox 360. A PS3 version was released the following month.

 

The same month BioWare launched the Mass Effect Trilogy bundle, series executive producer Casey Hudson revealed on Twitter that BioWare was already in "early stages of designing a completely new Mass Effect game." Days later, BioWare Montreal studio director Yanick Roy stated the game would be made on the Frostbite Engine, unlike previous titles which were developed on Unreal Engine. Roy also said the team would be taking the franchise in "new directions" in terms of story and gameplay.

 

In Feb. 2013, Bioware community manager Chris Priestly wrote on the franchise forums that calling the upcoming title Mass Effect 4 is doing the series a "disservice" because the story of Commander Shepard is over. The next game is not a prequel or a sequel to his tale, Priestly wrote. The studio also said the jump to next-gen consoles for future games won't be as resource-intensive as development for PS3 and Xbox 360 because it will not likely need a dramatic increase in staff for development.

 

http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/3/5465550/bioware-internally-discussed-remastered-mass-effect-games-for-next

 

Dunno whether or not I'd bite on that as I have no plans to get rid of my 360, but it could certainly be tempting.

[123456789A]

I hope they have more Krogan females in the remastered version. Tuchankadonk.

[.Ruby]

A "disservice"? I really believe this is a cop out considering they want to make ME4 a FPS, along with a new lead character around the game. I know the game is not even out yet but who am I kidding thinking this iteration will turn out better than the first one.

 

Call me a pessismist for seeing a recurring pattern in the industry.

[johnnyq3]

I would like to see the trilogy on the WiiU even if Nintendo has to put the games on the system.  It would be nice to play through the game with the gamepad and mark spots on the gamepad in the first game when on the side planets in the Mako.

[compl3x]

Really? More remakes. God dammit.

[trooper11]

I would probably pass on a remake unless it was drastically improved in some way. I have invested far too many hours into that trilogy to be interested in doing it all over again.

[spacer]

If by "remastered" they mean, "We hired Karpyshyn back to fix the God damn ending" then sweet, I'm all for it. If they mean just re-releasing the games with slightly more pixels, they can stick their thumb up their butts.

 

It seems that a lot of publishers and developers think because the new consoles have zero backwards compatibility that gives them carte blanche to re-hash existing games instead of put effort into something new. The "definitive" Tomb Raider is a prime example. I'm not a fan of this trend at all.

[Mandosis]

As great as that would be I would rather have a new game in the mass effect series.