BioWare Lead Designer Talks Mass Effect: Andromeda

By Brad Jones 31 December 2016

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• ps4
• xbox one
• bioware
• mass effect: andromeda
• mass effect

Mass Effect: Andromeda lead designer Ian S. Frazier shares some new information about the game, offering up interesting details about conversation options and gameplay mechanics.

We’re not far away from the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda, but there are many aspects of the game that we still don’t know all that much about. Fortunately, lead designer Ian S. Frazier has taken to Twitter to answer some questions from fans.

Dialogue options were a crucial component of the original Mass Effect trilogy, and this mechanic will return for Andromeda. However, there will also be moments when the player character makes automatic responses, according to a report from WCCF Tech that showcased the designer’s responses to fan questions. Frazier notes that players will see “a ton” of the dialogue wheel.

The designer also had some other information relating to previous BioWare releases. When asked whether Andromeda will feature the same companion approval system used in Dragon Age, Frazier states that the game will chart its own path. More details on the way players interact with their squad and crew are apparently on their way imminently.

There’s also some pertinent information for PC gamers in relation to release plans for the game. Unfortunately, Andromeda will be an Origin exclusive, and won’t be available for purchase via Steam. However, Frazier does confirm that there are plans for a physical, disc-based release — something of a rarity these days.

@thatColtondude No, sorry. PC version will be available via Origin or by disc (physical).— Ian S. Frazier (@tibermoon) January 2, 2017

Finally, Frazier clears up a bit of misinformation regarding the two protagonists set to star in Andromeda. Scott and Sara Ryder both have their own preset characters, but this won’t serve to undermine the player’s ability to role-play over the course of their adventure.

Instead, the differences between Scott and Sara are designed to differentiate the two characters. Given that both siblings will apparently be present in the game’s universe, this is ostensibly to make sure that they’re more than simple palette swaps.

Longstanding Mass Effect producer Mike Gamble jumped into the conversation at this point to stress the importance that Scott and Sara are different people. It’s currently unknown exactly how this ties into the game’s overarching story, but the Ryder family certainly seems to be core to the plot of Andromeda.

After the debacle caused by the ending of Mass Effect 3, it’s good to see BioWare taking story seriously as the studio attempts to forge the next chapter of the sci-fi franchise. Andromeda is certainly one of the most anticipated releases of this year — let’s hope it can live up to the hype.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is scheduled to launch in 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.