It almost seems hard to believe that it has been 12 years since the release of Mass Effect 3 and six years since the release of the last game in the franchise with Mass Effect: Andromeda. While BioWare has been transparent about the existence of a new Mass Effect title in development, whether this game is going to be Mass Effect 4 or another spinoff similar to Andromeda remains to be seen. With BioWare itself largely silent on the progress being made towards a new entry in the Mass Effect franchise, parent company EA has stepped in and revived another dormant and much-loved sci-fi saga with this year's remake of Dead Space.
Given that both franchises are published by Electronic Arts and take place in the emptiness of space, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the worlds of Mass Effect and Dead Space have crossed over in the past. To celebrate the release of Dead Space 3, EA offered players with Mass Effect 3 save files the ability to unlock an N7-themed armor set for protagonist Isaac Clarke. However, EA could push the connection between the two science fiction titles further in the next Mass Effect. The next title in BioWare's space opera has a golden opportunity to lean into a horror-themed side quest that explicitly connects the worlds of Mass Effect and Dead Space.
Mass Effect and Dead Space Blend Science Fiction with Horror
Plenty of IPs in pop culture emphasize just how effective outer space is at being scary. Some of the best and most iconic science fiction and horror films ever have utilized the darkness and unknown of space to great effect. While its unlikely that many would make the case for the Mass Effect trilogy qualifying as survival-horror games, there are plenty of locations and events from those games that ratchet up the tension and dread to a degree not dissimilar from Dead Space.
One of the most thrilling aspects of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 was the act of exploring signals in outer space only to stumble on a derelict spacecraft or abandoned settlement crawling with enemies. Depending on when Mass Effect 4 takes place, and with the potential for that game's plot to establish multiple universes or realities, it becomes possibility for players to stumble upon the USG Ishimura from Dead Space. For fans of both series who have imagined a crossover between the two franchises, getting to combat necromorphs using a blend of firepower and telekinetic abilities is an enticing prospect.
Bringing Dead Space Into Mass Effect Makes Remakes of 2 and 3 More Likely
The success of the first Mass Effect served as a catalyst for EA's acquisition of BioWare in 2008. When one considers the success that the trilogy of Mass Effect games brought EA and BioWare, it stands to reason that the next game in the series will be a landmark release. Many considered the Dead Space franchise to be dead and gone until EA made the surprise announcement of a remake, and it currently stands as one of the highest rated games of 2023. There is a possibility that the sequels will receive remakes if there's enough of a demand. The next Mass Effect game could play a pivotal role in making these sequels a reality.
Given the potential for a crossover of the Dead Space locations and enemies in a Mass Effect game, Mass Effect 4 embracing Dead Space could prove to be mutually beneficial for both franchises. Mass Effect: Andromeda was a slight misstep for BioWare following the critical and commercial reception of the original trilogy, and it's likely the next game in the Mass Effect series has the future of the franchise riding on it. With EA determining the likelihood of a Dead Space 2 and 3 remake based on sales and fan reception and a Mass Effect universe ripe for a horror-themed crossover, these two sci-fi franchises could help deliver one another back into prominence.
Mass Effect 4 is in development.