As part of a report over at Deadline covering the launch of the new series The Wheel Of Time comes a little nugget in relation to a potential new TV series based on EA and BioWare's Mass Effect.

Apparently a deal is close to being made for a TV series based on the classic scf-fi RPG.

Details are slight but Deadline notes that "one of the company’s newest hopefuls in the arena is Mass Effect", adding "Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a series based on the best-selling sci-fi video game franchise from Electronic Arts".

It's worth highlighting the hopeful portion as Amazon is still working on a big budget Lord of the Rings adaptation in addition to the big budget fantasy that is The Wheel of Time. So this probably means that the Mass Effect series will be similarly large in scope. As for the setting no doubt fans would want the story to follow or at least loosely adapt the events of the original trilogy.

For a release that still hasn't been officially confirmed it seems that remastered Mass Effect trilogy is all but a done deal. If we had to take a guess, a full announcement and reveal will probably come on N7 day - that is November 7. And now, thanks to a new retail listing in Korea (via Gematsu) we have a title. The Mass Effect Legendary Edition.


"I'm Commander Shepard and I approve this title."
Which, as per rumours will feature the original trilogy remastered for current-gen consoles - PS4 and Xbox One - in addition to PC. No word on what exactly that might entail but at a minimum you'd want to see crisper textures, modern visual effects, and a faster frame-rate. A wish-list scenario would include real-time ray-tracing on PC - though with the PS4 and Xbox One being the targets that probably won't happen.

There's no word on a release date, but again, rumours are pointing to an early 2021 release.

Which as per this Kotaku report notes that the project is very early in development, with BioWare's Mike Gamble overseeing production. Whose credits include the excellent Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, as well as the not-so excellent Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem.

With the Edmonton studio also currently working on Dragon Age 4, this very early new Mass Effect game is probably at least three to four years out from release. That is, if it's a project that goes forward.

This also ties in nicely with BioWare head honcho Casey Hudson (who spearheaded the original Mass Effect) posting some unused concept art from the Mass Effect vaults for N7 Day.

We have so many ideas for things we want to do in #MassEffect, so much concept art that hasn't yet been brought to life, and so many stories yet to tell. #N7Day pic.twitter.com/gDXbYComCC

— Casey Hudson (@CaseyDHudson) November 7, 2019

As it's been a couple of years now since Andromeda, the legacy of Mass Effect is still strong thanks to the brilliant trilogy that started it all. In fact, if BioWare is planning to re-visit this world we'd also love to see the first three games get the proper remaster treatment.

BioWare has deemed November 7th as N7 Day, and to help celebrate said day a number of various staff members have released very illusive images of what appears to be "the next chapter of Mass Effect".

Among the pictures posted so far are concept art being drawn for new environments, one showing what looks like a new character and what seems to be some form of arm attachment being designed, another showing a new type of enemy, and one that shows the game being played on what looks to be PC but with an Xbox 360 controller. With each picture is a small snippet of text, which reads out in full as "The next chapter of Mass Effect is upon us! With new characters to fall in love, with new enemies to encounter and new worlds to explore!"

"As we celebrate N7 day, we look back at the talented people who worked on the Mass Effect trilogy, and we remember our inspiration for some of the great pieces that have made Mass Effect so iconic," the first portion of today's message reads. "We celebrate the fans, for their support, and for their commitment to the original characters that we proudly decorate our studios with, and the new one’s we’ve added along the way."

BioWare hasn't revealed any solid information on when we can expect a new installment in the Mass Effect series, but its great to see that the team are working on something to tantalise our sci-fi tastebuds.

BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy is done. At least on the single-player front, and with that in mind, and knowledge there's more left to explore in the vast Mass Effect universe, we took to working out what would be viable, as a game, next in the franchise.

Whether or not it's a direct follow-on to the trilogy, or a prequel leading up to the events that have transpired the past six years, there's a vast and rich book of lore and history to draw from, as well as a host of compelling and interesting races. We chose five, looked at their histories, potential storylines and what game type we think would best suit.

Click here for the full feature.

If you were hoping to grab the three titles in the Mass Effect universe plus all DLC available, sadly this won't be the case says BioWare. According to the detailed FAQ, each platform will be given different DLC packs, with the added benefit of having to buy the rest presumably through their online store.

What DLC is included in the Mass Effect Trilogy?

On PC, Mass Effect will include Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station on disk. For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included which features Zaeed – The Price of Revenge, The Firewalker Pack, Cerberus Assault Gear, Arc Projector heavy weapon, and Normandy Crash site mission. For Mass Effect 3, Online Pass will be included granting players access to co-op multiplayer.

On Xbox 360, Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station are not included with Mass Effect, however they are available as stand-alone downloads through Xbox LIVE. For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included and Online Pass will be included for Mass Effect 3.

Information on PlayStation 3 DLC will be available soon.

Luckily though the odd choice of what DLC is given to who will not hurt any of your current Mass Effect saves, or the multiplayer in Mass Effect 3.

The trilogy has been dated for a November 6th release, however PlayStation 3 users have been left in the dark with only a "TBA" to comfort them.

Electronic Arts has revealed that an anime movie is now officially in the works:

Based on the Mass Effect universe, the anime video will tell the tale of an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets.

Casey Hudson of BioWare, executive producer of the Mass Effect series, will serve as executive producer on the film, along with FUNimation President and CEO Gen Fukunaga and Director of Original Entertainment Chris Moujaes and T.O Entertainment’s CEO Takeichi Honda and Yui Shibata.

Legendary Pictures have picked up the option to adapt a film based on BioWare's critically acclaimed Mass Effect series, and are going ahead with the project in what looks to be an ASAP capacity. BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeshuck will executive produce the film, alongside Mass Effect 2 director Casey Hudson. Scripting duties are being looked into by I Am Legend penmen, Mark Protosovich, while Marvel Pics' Avi Arad is likely on board to produce.

There's no denying the series is rich in imagery, imagination and story, but translating the free-form conversation and dynamic decision-making of the game is definitely an arduous task. I doubt it would at all be broached, leaving a major gap in any form of true adaptation.

Still Legendary haven't done us too wrong with the likes of 300 and The Dark Knight under their belt, so we'll just have to wait and see. (I wonder if Martin Sheen will play the Elusive Man?)