Mass Effect

Did You Know?

• Humanity discovered an alien outpost on Mars in 2148 and learned that Charon is a mass relay enabling faster-than-light travel.
• The Mass Effect: Datapad app for iOS allowed players to check the galaxy map in Mass Effect 3 and receive messages from characters.

Games

The first game, Mass Effect (2007), was initially an Xbox 360 exclusive before being ported to Windows in 2008 and PlayStation 3 in 2012. It follows Commander Shepard stopping the rogue Spectre Saren Arterius, who is mentally enslaved by the Reaper vanguard Sovereign, from using the geth to conquer the galaxy. Two downloadable content packs, Bring Down The Sky and Pinnacle Station, were released in 2008 and 2009. Mass Effect 2, released in January 2010 for Windows and Xbox 360, takes place two years after the first game. Shepard is forced to ally with the pro-human organization Cerberus to investigate the disappearance of colonists, linked to the Collectors working for the Reapers. The game was praised for its characters, storyline, voice acting, and refined combat, with many critics calling it a major improvement over the original. A PlayStation 3 version was released in January 2011. Mass Effect 3 (2012) depicts the war between the Reapers and the galaxy. Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017) introduced a new setting and cast, and a fifth game is in active development.

Other media

The original trilogy has tie-in novels published by Del Rey Books. Mass Effect: Revelation (2007), by Drew Karpyshyn, focuses on Lieutenant David Anderson and his early encounters with Saren. Mass Effect: Ascension (2008), also by Karpyshyn, centers on Cerberus member Paul Grayson raising a biotic girl named Gillian. Mass Effect: Retribution (2010) is a sequel to both Mass Effect 2 and Ascension. Mass Effect: Deception (2012), by William C. Dietz, follows Gillian Grayson and received largely negative responses due to lore inconsistencies, prompting a fan petition and later revisions. For Mass Effect: Andromeda, Titan Books published three novels: Nexus Uprising (2017) by Jason M. Hough and K. C. Alexander, Initiation (2017) by N. K. Jemisin and Mac Walters, and Annihilation (2018) by Catherynne M. Valente. Art books include The Art of Mass Effect (2007) from Prima Games, The Art of the Mass Effect Universe (2012) from Dark Horse Comics, and The Art of Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017) from Dark Horse Comics.

Development and history

Mass Effect began as a 2003 pitch codenamed SFX by BioWare project director Casey Hudson to co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, aiming to create a science fiction intellectual property on the scale of Star Wars. In October 2007, EA bought VG Holding Corp., which included BioWare and Pandemic Studios, acquiring the Mass Effect IP while BioWare remained the developer. The series' technology is based on dark energy theory, using fictional Element Zero to create mass effect fields for artificial gravity and faster-than-light travel. Other real-world concepts explored include 3D printing for the omni-tool, hard light technology, and hypervelocity weaponry. Hudson believed that real-life scientific discoveries justify creative license, as reality often surpasses fiction.

Legacy and cultural impact

The Mass Effect franchise has been described by critics as some of the best science fiction ever made, with themes of aspiration and connection in an indifferent cosmos. It has been noted for setting a high bar for storytelling in video games and for growing from a niche RPG into a major AAA phenomenon. The series is credited with building one of the most fascinating universes in video game history through well-written codex entries. N7 Day, observed annually on November 7, originated as a 2012 marketing initiative by BioWare to celebrate the franchise, with N7 referring to Commander Shepard's military designation code. The dialogue wheel mechanic, which allows players to dynamically steer conversations, has seen widespread use in other role-playing games. The ending of Mass Effect 3 drew widespread criticism, leading to an expanded cut with additional cutscenes. Mass Effect: Andromeda received mixed reviews, with praise for visuals and combat but criticism for technical issues and plot.