The first trailer for Mass Effect 4 was released last year, and since then anticipation has been growing for the continuation of BioWare's sci-fi RPG series, particularly following the positive reception of the remastered Mass Effect Legendary Edition. As players begin to revisit the franchise, many are starting to wonder which characters will be carried over into the next installment.
For a while, it seemed that the future of the Mass Effect series would be put on hold following the highly-criticized launch of Mass Effect: Andromeda. Many fans disliked the game's rushed development, multiple glitches, and lack of polish. However, another common complaint was the lack of continuity with the original three titles of the franchise.
Fortunately, BioWare now seems on track to fix that. Earlier this year the company re-released the original trilogy in the form of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which also included almost all of the Mass Effect DLC along with a host of visual and gameplay improvements. Both new and old players alike are beginning to look ahead to the future of the series again, and discussions are starting to circulate surrounding the possibility of familiar faces returning in ME4.
Returning Mass Effect 4 Characters - Liara
When the Mass Effect 4 trailer was initially revealed during The Game Awards 2020, the biggest hint that the game would be picking up where the original trilogy left off was the inclusion of Liara T'soni at the end of the teaser. While it isn't yet confirmed how much of a role she'll have within the game, it seems a very safe assumption that she'll have at least some part to play within ME4. At the very least, her involvement is more probable than any other character from the first three Mass Effect games.
Returning Mass Effect 4 Characters - Wrex
Given that Liara looks much older in the Mass Effect 4 trailer, some have started to theorize that the game will take place in the far-off future - especially when asari's long lifespans are taken into consideration. This factor also makes the game's krogan characters likely candidates to make an appearance, such as Grunt and Eve. In particular, though, people are hoping to encounter the fan-favorite crewmate Wrex again.
Returning Mass Effect 4 Characters - EDI
Although ME3's destroy ending implies that all synthetic lifeforms - EDI included - are destroyed in the aftermath of the fight against the Reapers, it isn't yet confirmed which ending BioWare will be making canon for the trilogy or if it will be left entirely open-ended. However, seeing as some fans are speculating that the control ending will be canon in ME4, it's possible that EDI or other synthetics could still be fully functioning even if the game is set later on in the series' timeline.
Returning Mass Effect 4 Characters - Shepard
Many believe that the N7 armor showcased in the Mass Effect 4 trailer is setting up Shepard's involvement in the future of the franchise. Although it's unlikely that they will serve as a playable character again, their influence could potentially have a large impact on the story, and they even make a direct appearance within the events of the game. If Mass Effect 4 aims to link Andromeda and the original trilogy together as some are speculating, having Shepard and Ryder meet would be a good way to tie the entire franchise back together given player attachment to the protagonists.