For almost three decades now, developer BioWare has been making RPGs that fans have enjoyed over the years. While the developer has had some issues lately, mainly with the botched releases such as Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, the renowned RPG creator is set to make a comeback with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Impressions look good for the upcoming title, but BioWare has recently come under criticism for how it is treating previous game decisions.
With Dragon Age: The Veilguard officially narrowing the scope of decisions from previous games, people are beginning to speculate about how BioWare may apply a similar approach to Mass Effect 4. By only selecting three major decisions to carry over from the Dragon Age series, BioWare is showing a new way of handling continuity. As Mass Effect 4 is confirmed to connect the story from the original trilogy, this new system could set the stage for how it manages the complex web of decisions from earlier titles.
Mass Effect 4’s Populated Areas Should Look No Further Than Star Wars Outlaws for Inspiration
Not much is yet known about the next Mass Effect game, but there is one key aspect of Star Wars Outlaws it would do well to draw inspiration from.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Three Key Decisions Set a New Standard
In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players will face three critical choices from Dragon Age: Inquisition: who they romanced, whether they decided to stop or save Solas, and the fate of the Inquisition. These selective decisions are a departure from the sprawling web of consequences seen in earlier entries. This new approach is designed to avoid contradictory choices and streamline the continuity, allowing BioWare to focus on The Veilguard's new narrative arcs without being bogged down by an overwhelming number of past decisions.
Players have a personal tie into big decisions, such as the ones taken in Mass Effect 3. Longtime fans will want to see how these decisions have played out over the years. But having a story spanning so long, and the team not being the same as it was when both series were initially created brings continuity challenges. By narrowing down a few key decisions from Mass Effect 1-3, BioWare can maintain the impact of past player choices while building a narrative that bridges the gap between the original trilogy and Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Solas and Liara: Key Characters Who Could Shape Dragon Age and Mass Effect Continuity
The handling of Solas in The Veilguard offers a clear example of how BioWare may handle key returning characters in Mass Effect 4. Solas, revealed as Fen’Harel, the Dread Wolf, serves as a central figure in the narrative, connecting past decisions with the future of the world. In a similar fashion, concept art and teaser trailers suggest that Liara T'Soni may play a pivotal role in Mass Effect 4.
Liara, a fan-favorite character, could serve as the narrative bridge, much like Solas, by tying the plot to past events while pushing the series into new territory. Whether she takes on a direct antagonistic role like Solas or serves as a guide between old and new remains to be seen, but her presence hints that BioWare will continue to focus on character-driven continuity rather than a broad, all-encompassing system of choices.
What Lore Elements Would You Like Mass Effect 4 to Explore?
Mass Effect?lore varies from pages upon pages of information to simple paragraphs on the most obscure subjects. There are tons of theories on which direction?Mass Effect 4?will go. However, I'm most interested in the lore we get from the codex and planet descriptions. I really want to learn more about the Inusannon, one of the extinct alien races in the?Mass Effect?universe. There are several statues depicting the Inusannon on Ilos but very little is actually known about them.
Streamlining Choices for Future Mass Effect and Dragon Age Games
The decision to limit the influence of past events in The Veilguard may reflect BioWare’s struggle with a realization that too many choices can overcomplicate future entries. The developer has said that it’s trying to appeal to newer players while also maintaining the story pedigree it’s been known for.
In Mass Effect, the consequences of choices from the original trilogy varied in significance, and were mostly pushed aside in Andromeda. By narrowing the scope of decisions to just a few key moments, Mass Effect 4 could offer a more focused narrative while still acknowledging players' past actions. But as they are finding out, it’s a very thin line to draw. If done correctly though, the outcome can be a cleaner narrative that new and old fans alike can follow and connect with.
Speculation on What Will Be Canon in Mass Effect 4
One of the more intriguing aspects of Mass Effect 4 is how BioWare will handle the longstanding debate over what choices are canon. With Dragon Age: The Veilguard confirming only a few key decisions from prior games will matter, it seems likely that Mass Effect will adopt a similar approach. It may try to ignore the three controversial endings of Mass Effect 3, and only mention the narrative of the Ryder twins in passing dialogue. Perhaps it may even take the mysterious Benefactor from Andromeda, and expand on that narrative.
As Dragon Age: The Veilguard nears release, Mass Effect 4 remains in pre-production, with BioWare focusing its efforts on completing The Veilguard. While fans eagerly await news on Mass Effect 4, the studio’s approach to narrative continuity in The Veilguard could offer insight into what’s to come. If done right, BioWare might have just created the winning formula.
One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors and packs — remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
Your comment has not been saved