‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ Producer Wants Fans To Keep An Open Mind About The Removal Of Commander Shepard

Only a handful of details are actually known about Mass Effect: Andromeda. At this time, BioWare has revealed very few pieces of information about the story of the fourth Mass Effect game. Gamers presently only know that the title will take place in a different galaxy, will feature a human protagonist, and that the lead character won’t be Commander Shepard this time around.

After following Shepard in the Mass Effect games, the idea of continuing the series without the Commander might be a hard concept for some fans to grasp. However, BioWare has stated that Mass Effect: Andromeda opens up an entirely new chapter of franchise’s sci-fi universe that needs to unfold through the eyes of a different character. On top of everything else, the narrative of Commander Shepard was fully concluded at the end of Mass Effect 3 and there’s no real reason for BioWare to expand on the storyline of the series’ original trilogy.

However, it’s easy to understand how some fans may have a hard time swallowing the idea of a Mass Effect game that doesn’t feature Shepard. After all, players were first introduced to the Mass Effect universe alongside Shepard and so it can difficult to imagine a new installment of the series without its original protagonist.

With Mass Effect: Andromeda, it looks like BioWare is hoping to make a clean break with the previous tittles. The game will take place in a completely new galaxy and will bring the franchise to current-gen platforms for the first time. The developer is betting that they can continue to move the next Mass Effect game forward by also introducing a new protagonist.

As expected, BioWare is already starting to see some pushback from fans about the removal of Commander Shepard. Trying to reassure gamers that the team can make a new lead character work, Mass Effect producer Michael Gamble asked doubters on Twitter to reserve their judgments about the game because BioWare believes the community will embrace the new protagonist just as they once did with Commander Shepard.

@N7_BattleLord give us a chance to change your mind. I don’t think you’ll be dissapointed.

— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) November 9, 2015

As the Inquisitr reported last week, The developer has also shared their reasons why Mass Effect: Andromeda will once only allow players to create a human protagonist. According to BioWare’s Aaryn Flynn, the studio is sticking to a human character because the story will specifically deal with very human themes.

BioWare also recently paid a special tribute to Shepard in a new teaser trailer for Mass Effect: Andromeda that was released this past weekend during their annual N7 Day celebration. The video served to help transition the original Mass Effect trilogy to the events of Andromeda, which will lead players to explore the new titular galaxy.

While recapping the events of this year’s N7 Day on the official BioWare Blog, the developer also once again thanked their fans for making the Mass Effect franchise such a success as well as continuing to inspire the team on they work on new projects. Despite the fact that N7 Day is already intended to be a way to both thank fans and remember Mass Effect at the same time, the team wanted to take another moment to share their gratitude.

“This year’s N7 Day was one to remember. Fans across the globe came together to celebrate the friendships, alliances, loves, and stories we’ve all built as a part of the Mass Effect universe. We are constantly inspired by your energy and enthusiasm, and N7 Day is a testament to the strength of the community. Thank you for being a part of the celebration.”

Mass Effect: Andromeda is currently scheduled to launch during the holiday season of 2016. Are you still interested in the next Mass Effect game even though it won’t follow Commander Shepard?

[Image via BioWare Blog]