Highlights

  • As BioWare gears up for a new Mass Effect game, it shouldn't miss out on the chance to reciprocate Destiny 2's crossover.
  • Destiny and Mass Effect already share similarities, which means there's room for a crossover that's more than just surface-deep.
  • While Destiny offers cosmetic crossovers, Mass Effect's single-player focus allows for deep integration of Destiny references.

After Bungie delivered its latest Destiny 2 crossover with the acclaimed Mass Effect series, BioWare shouldn't waste the opportunity to return the favor, given that it has an upcoming and as-of-yet untitled Mass Effect game in development. While both Destiny and Destiny 2 have had their fair share of crossovers with other games ranging from Dark Souls to The Witcher, Mass Effect is arguably one of the few alongside the likes of Halo that believably fits within the space-faring shooter. This means that, unlike these many other crossovers, the next Mass Effect game has the chance to add its own Destiny-themed content.

It wouldn't be the first time that Mass Effect has featured references to either BioWare's own games and those developed by third parties, with these in-game nods ranging from the Dragon Age series throughout the original trilogy to Plants Vs. Zombies in the Mass Effect: Andromeda spin-off. But when it comes to a like-minded game series such as Destiny, both it and Mass Effect already share so many similarities that a crossover shouldn't just be one-way and surface-deep. Therefore, with a new Mass Effect coming in the near future, BioWare can go the extra light-year with its side of a Destiny crossover.

Mass Effect Commander Shepard Exodus Cinematic
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What Would Another Mass Effect x Destiny Crossover Look Like?

Mass Effect's Next Game Could Reference Destiny

As part of Destiny 2's Mass Effect crossover, players will be able to get a variety of armor sets, emotes, ships, and more inspired by BioWare's hit sci-fi series, such as Commander Shepard's iconic N7 armor, an Alliance Scout Frigate ship based on Shepard's Normandy, or even Shepard's unforgettable Flux dance as an emote. However, like previous crossover content throughout the Destiny series, these items are purely cosmetic. If Mass Effect were to do the same, then the addition of Destiny-themed content in its next game, such as the list of examples below, wouldn't be any different from the series' other easter eggs or references.

  • Armor inspired by or lifted from Destiny.
  • Weapons inspired by or lifted from Destiny.
  • Collectible models based on ships or Ghosts from Destiny.
  • Planet names based on characters and locations from Destiny.

Mass Effect Could Do What Destiny Can't With Crossover Content

But though it makes sense for a free-to-play MMO game like Destiny 2 to keep things fair for all players with extra content, that standard doesn't necessarily apply to the single-player Mass Effect series, especially after BioWare reaffirmed its commitment to single-player storytelling. Since Bungie has already featured so many crossovers that Mass Effect couldn't compete with a single game's worth of references, BioWare instead has the opportunity to be bold when including Destiny references in the series' next game. While it's unlikely Mass Effect would, or even could, canonize Destiny into its universe, that doesn't mean it can't take heavy inspiration for side characters, missions, and more.

Similar to the split-second appearance of Halo's Pillar of Autumn in Mass Effect 2 after passing the Omega-4 relay, the next Mass Effect could feature characters, ships, or items from across the Destiny games as more than cosmetic details. Should the next game learn from Mass Effect: Andromeda and its galaxy map exploration, players could discover many of Destiny's ships or even The Traveler lost in space. Alternatively, a new Mass Effect could lift fan-favorite Destiny characters like Cayde-6 or Mara Sov, incorporating these into world-building lore, interactive background characters, or side missions:

  • A synthetic bounty hunter and his pet chicken inspired by Cayde-6.
  • A strange nomadic trader who insists on being called "the Drifter."
  • A "Ghost" AI inside a small drone that needs to find its Guardian.
  • An antagonistic Witness-themed Geth whose programs merged as one entity.