It’s now been a decade since the release ofMass Effect 3. The controversies surrounding the RPG’s release, and particularly surrounding its ending, have long since faded into memory for most. Yet sometimes fans can’t help but reflect on theMass Effecttrilogy’s release, its impact on the gaming industry, and what happened with its ending. Even former BioWare writer Drew Karpyshyn is reflecting on theMass Effecttrilogy, sharing some previously unconfirmed details about the ending.
Karpyshyn recently held an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit to promote his upcoming book,Time Kings of Las Vegas. During the session,Karpyshynwas asked how he would have concluded theMass Effectseries, a sneaky way of asking him about the trilogy’s ending without explicitly mentioning the trilogy’s ending. Karpyshyn surprised when he provided an answer, explaining what the original BioWare team was thinking well beforeMass Effect 3was ever written.
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If Karpyshyn is to be believed, the original “rough idea” forMass Effect 3’s endingwould have involved “luring the Reapers through the Mass Relays.” After that, the entire Mass Relay network would be “detonated,” wiping out the reapers while also destroying the entire network of relays connecting the galaxy together. The intent, Karpyshyn said, would be to leave the various planets and civilizations of the galactic community isolated.
Those familiar with the development of theMass Effecttrilogy know that Drew Karpyshyn played a significant role in the writing of bothMass EffectandMass Effect 2. He’d then shift to working onStar Wars: The Old Republic, beforeleaving BioWare in 2012. He’d know the general direction that theMass Effectfranchise was moving toward, but wouldn’t necessarily be involved with what happened inMass Effect 3or the actual decision-making for its ending.
AsMass Effect 3players know, the plot point that Karpyshyn is explaining did end up happening. Using the Crucible for any of the endings, short of choosing to do nothing, results in the destruction of the Mass Relay network. The Reapers aren’t led into the Mass Relays, however. And the destruction of the network is never expanded on afterMass Effect 3ends. Perhaps it’ll be a plot pointexplored inMass Effect 4.
Karpyshyn has long moved on from BioWare and theMass Effectseries, though. He’s now working for the Wizards of the Coast-owned studioArchetype Entertainment, working on an entirely new IP. He, like mostMass Effectfans, is perfectly fine ignoring what came before and looking toward what’s coming next.
Mass Effect: Legendary Editionis available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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