IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Mass Effect 3 Likely Coming to PS3 and 360 Simultaneously

Posted August 18, 2010 by M.H. Williams

After yesterday’s announcement of Mass Effect 2 coming to the PlayStation 3, fans had some questions: What about the first game and the choices PS3 players would have made? What about the existing DLC?

BioWare head Ray Muzyka spoke to VG247 about the new version of their hit sequel and all it will entail. He says the PS3 version will include an introduction to the Mass Effect universe and most of the existing DLC.

“We’re making sure there’s a really seamless introduction to the world of Mass Effect, for players that haven’t experienced it before,” he explained. “So even though it’s Mass Effect 2 specifically, we’re making sure there’s a nice introduction experience that provides the back-story and the things that have happened up to that point in the universe, and makes it a really seamless introduction.”

Muzyka was cryptic as to what the introduction would entail. Could it be new gameplay modules or a collection of questions and cutscenes?

“We haven’t revealed what that is yet. It’ll be something that provides a good introduction and provides a lot of the back-story and introduces you well to the story-arc, and kind of makes you feel like you’re part of it all. And then you can jump right into the action in Mass Effect 2,” he answered.

On the downloadable content front, he confirmed at least most of the existing DLC will be coming to the PlayStation3 version. “One of the things we’re doing is that we’re bringing a lot of the post-release downloadable content and will integrate it into the experience, so that PS3 fans can check that out and play it,” he said.

The game’s Cerebus Network, which connects the PC and 360 versions to news and new content, will also be available for the PS3 revision. “I guess in terms of what the Cerberus Network represents, it really represents a lot of content, it represents a lot of post-release support, and we… do want make sure the PS3 fans get that experience in as full away as possible,” he added.

With the release of Mass Effect 2 for PS3, another question lingering on gamers’ minds is: Will Mass Effect 3 see a simultaneous launch on PS3, 360, and PC?

“That’d be a good guess, but we haven’t announced any details on any future formats or anything, or even formally announced Mass Effect 3 yet, although there’s a natural assumption that there will be a Mass Effect 3 as it’s a trilogy. We’ve said that and more or less confirmed it, but we haven’t announced any details on the product yet, or the platforms,” he said. “EA is a company that wants to support different platforms, reach different audiences; we’re part of EA and we want to make sure we can embrace that as well.“

Mass Effect 2 will be released on PlayStation 3 in January of 2011. The wait for PS3 owners is almost over.

M.H. Williams has been writing in some form or another for ten years and has been a hardcore gamer since the NES first graced American shores.  You can catch him on Twitter as @AutomaticZen, Google+ as himself, or on his personal Facebook page.