The fourth installment of BioWare's Mass Effect series may have been poorly received, but the company is already allegedly looking ahead to Mass Effect 5. Recent reports seem to suggest the company is developing Mass Effect 5 for next-gen consoles, although little is known about the game at this point. While the next generation of RPGs are seemingly focusing on new properties like Cyberpunk 77 or remakes of classics like Final Fantasy VII, BioWare appears to be sticking to its big guns by creating sequels to some of its most popular IPs. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but BioWare will need to make some serious changes if it wants to reinvigorate its Mass Effect series.
Mass Effect: Andromeda, the latest game in the series, released in 2017 and was met with mostly mixed reviews, even winning at least one "Worst Game Award." It was also a commercial disappointment, as the game performed well below expectations. Due to these factors, the future of BioWare's sci-fi RPG series was left hanging in the balance, despite the company promising they aren't finished with the Mass Effect series yet. New reports have suggested Mass Effect 5 is in development, and if so the company is likely eager to forge ahead and is hoping to restore fan goodwill towards the series.
Some of the biggest criticisms with Mass Effect: Andromeda were hurled at its technical issues, like poor graphical fidelity and rampant glitches, but the game's story was another source of contention. Although Andromeda was a deeply flawed game, it tried to set itself apart from the original Mass Effect trilogy, but it couldn't quite escape the shadow of its predecessors. Instead, Mass Effect: Andromeda offered a plot that tried to be something new while still deriving heavily from the trilogy that came before it. If Mass Effect 5 wants to succeed, it needs to step even farther out of the trilogy's shadow and forge a new path for itself.
Mass Effect 5 Needs To Pick & Choose From Andromeda's Gameplay
In order to really succeed, Mass Effect 5 will need to leave behind the concepts of the original trilogy that made Andromeda feel so rushed and derivative, despite taking place in a new galaxy and new time period. This means Mass Effect 5 should feature new worlds and a plot that exists far outside the timelines that have already been established. It also means subverting fan expectations and moving the narrative away from anything players have seen in the series before.
There are other ways BioWare can make Mass Effect 5 feel fresh, and the easiest is by adding in new species. The series has existed for over a decade, which means the races are familiar to most players. By creating several species that haven't been seen before, BioWare can inject their newest game with some originality that could get longtime fans excited. Mass Effect 5 could take this a step further and even make several of these new species into playable characters.
Aspects like Mass Effect: Andromeda's multiplayer should be kept, but if Mass Effect 5 is going to be successful, BioWare will need to give players a reason to keep coming back. Like most games, this could be done through DLC packs, cosmetic upgrades, and in-game events. However, the real draw for Mass Effect 5 should still be its story and solo campaign.
With both the Xbox Series X and PS5 launching soon, more details about next-gen games will continue to leak. Hopefully, details on Mass Effect 5 will release before the end of the year. If the game is really going to succeed, it needs to learn from Andromeda's mistakes and take the series into new and original territory.