Highlights

  • Mass Effect 4 promises a fresh start, but BioWare must avoid phoning it in for the sake of the franchise's reputation.
  • The focus for Mass Effect 4 should be on strong storytelling and gameplay, not just setting up future installments.
  • Balance is key for BioWare with Mass Effect 4 - a satisfying standalone game while leaving room for potential sequels.

Mass Effect 4 is without a doubt one of the most hotly anticipated EA games in the works right now—even if no one seems to know anything about it. Questions like whether Commander Shepard will return, where and when the game will take place, and how much of the ill-fated Mass Effect: Andromeda will be retained continue to swirl around this soft reboot, but one thing should be abundantly clear: it will be a fresh start for the franchise, bringing it into the modern gaming era.

Naturally, there are a number of risks and benefits associated with Mass Effect 4, or whatever it will ultimately be titled. The fact of the matter is that, while Mass Effect 3 was a fairly definitive (albeit controversial) end for the series, the Mass Effect IP is simply too valuable for EA to ignore. Recent games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have proven that RPGs are more in-demand than ever, so it makes sense that EA would want to capitalize on the genre's enduring popularity by reviving one of its most beloved contributions. At the same time, BioWare has had a bit of a rough go of things post-ME3, with critical and commercial flops like Andromeda and Anthem knocking the once-lauded studio down several pegs. Mass Effect 4 can't feel phoned-in or like a cash grab; it has to feel natural and justified.

While BioWare will be fighting to redeem its reputation with ME4 , EA has had a surprising redemption story , at least when it comes to single-player games. This may offer a bit of hope for old-school Mass Effect fans.

Mass Effect 3 Garrus and James Vega On the Moon
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Mass Effect 4 Shouldn't Be Forced to Relaunch the Series

Mass Effect 4: Good Game First, Franchise-Builder Second

While both EA and nostalgic Mass Effect fans would no doubt love for the seminal sci-fi franchise to be born anew and spawn a dozen new entries, this can't be the top priority. Both the games and film industries have proven time and again that putting franchise building over strong, independent storytelling is a recipe for a lackluster product, so BioWare really shouldn't count its chickens before they hatch. Mass Effect 4 will have enough on its plate trying to piece together the disparate pieces of the original Mass Effect trilogy, so a theoretical Mass Effect 5 should be the last thing on BioWare's mind.

BioWare Should Strike a Good Balance with Mass Effect 4

Of course, there's nothing inherently wrong with trying to relaunch the Mass Effect franchise, and it's possible that BioWare's writers are cooking up a new story that is best told across multiple installments. If this is truly a natural direction for the series to take, then great, but at the same time, Mass Effect 4's narrative should be able to stand on its own two feet. The wait for Mass Effect 4 has already felt eternal, so if the game finally releases only to end on a cliffhanger, then it could be unsatisfying.

The Mass Effect world is vast and intricate, with the potential to tell dozens of powerful, intriguing stories. If BioWare really wants to make Mass Effect 5, 6, or 7, then that is certainly a possibility, but perhaps the door to these subsequent releases should be cracked, rather than flung, open. Mass Effect 4 ought to be interesting and fulfilling in its own right, and while it should leave players wanting more, the promise of yet another trilogy isn't what will make the game worth playing. Instead, great storytelling, solid gameplay, and strong RPG staples are what will make Mass Effect 4 a long-overdue return to form. If the game needs to be a one-off in order for these criteria to be met, then that's fine.