Bioware focusing on PC, current-gen development of Mass Effect 4

By Stephany Nunneley

In celebration of N7 Day, Bioware held a Mass Effect 4 roundtable session where the US and Montreal teams discussed the heavy amount of exploration in the game, as well as its focus on PC and current-gen consoles.

The next entry in the series will contain new races, and concept art for some of the homeworlds was shown. Those are posted below. Players, as they explore, will be able to discover these new species and learn about about each race. Race homeworlds can be dangerous, but in some instances will be a peaceful areas. Not to worry: there will be darker and more dangerous areas as well.

While not much was given away regarding the next Mass Effect title, at a Comic Con panel earlier this year Bioware revealed the new hero is somehow connected to N7, and while there are hints that it will take place during Commander Shepard’s lifetime in another galaxy – nothing was confirmed during today’s stream.

Bioware isn’t calling it Mass Effect 4, stating they didn’t want to “build Mass Effect 4” – but that is what everyone else is calling it until an actual title is revealed by the developer.

While the game is considered a “spiritual successor” to the trilogy instead of a sequel, it will be the “largest Mass Effect game” yet and a new way of scanning the environment will be available along with more use of the Mako vehicle.

Bioware said the goal with this Mass Effect game is to “marry” exploration with creating relationships, engaging in lots of conflict and “shooting people in the face.” As with previous titles, your choices and actions will have consequences and your party relationships will reflect said choices.

The Frostbite-developed title was not confirmed for last-gen consoles, but Bioware didn’t say it wouldn’t be released on PS3 or Xbox 360 either. However, it’s safe to assume it will be a PC, PS4 and Xbox One title only at this time. Don’t quote us on that though.

A title or estimated release window was not provided. You should be able to re-watch the stream, so we’ll leave it at the bottom of this post.