We still don’t have firm confirmation of the multiplayer side of Mass Effect 3. Rumours have been flying around ever since the very first teaser trailer so this is just another step along that road towards the, now almost inevitable, announcement.
A South African retailer has included the mention of multiplayer in an advertisement for the Mass Effect 3 collector’s edition. This comes just three weeks before Xbox World (magazine) is set to unveil Mass Effect 3’s “killer new feature”.
BioWare has previously stated that they wouldn’t put multiplayer in the game but all indications in recent months have been leaning towards its inclusion. What do you think, potential for a great new aspect to the Mass Effect universe or another case of multiplayer being needlessly crammed in?
Source: GAF
SpikeyMikey23
Really looking forward to the N7 patch!!!….. ;)
I guess the multiplayer could work, in an uncharted 3 style deathmatch area with plenty of cover. Could also work like hoard mode in GoW. Interesting
ron_mcphatty
Very interesting. I should get a shimmy on and play Mass Effect 2. Its been sitting on my shelf for 6 months, waiting for a suitably rainy day!
DeathByNumbers
It could also just be an online pass in the same vein as the Cerberus network code that came with ME2.
colossalblue
very true, although wouldn’t they just continue to use the Cerberus network branding for all that?
DeathByNumbers
I’d imagine so but is there any proof of who actually created this advert? Was it made by EA/Bioware or the South African retailer? In which case it’s entirely possible he’s interpreted ‘on-line network access code’ (or something similar) as mulitplayer. Loads of games state network features that dint have multiplayer. We’ll just have to wait and see, it’s unlikely a single retailer like this would have been ear-marked as the one to bring such news. And if it was stated in a press-release to retailers to help increase pre-orders how come there is no mention of it on other retailers sites? I’m just sceptical that’s all, if it’s there and doesn’t detract from the story then that’s fine with me.
oFelipeNFo
I don’t think they are going to use Cerberus Network anymore as Shepard do not work for Cerberus but for the Alliance now.
Pritchie101
A Day One for me! Looking forward to the N7 edition.
Soild_Nat
I think multi-player in a game like this would ruin it, for me at least. The single player aspect of this game is big enough and deep enough to keep you engaged for many hours, through multi-player into the mix and your time is going to be split between the two meaning a great single player game gets left or in-completed so you can keep up with the multi-player levelling and skill required to have a half decent chance of enjoying it.
On the other hand you may concentrate on just the single player game and leave the multi-player, in that case have you paid more for a feature you wont use or have interest in?
For me if they have managed to keep the same high level and attention to detail in the single player and found some resource to create multi-player then great, however if the single player has suffered to add this then I think its a real shame! Mass Effect has always been about the great story and gameplay as a single player and not about blowing stuff up on a generic level from the game, online with others!
MayContainEvil
I agree with all of this. I play Mass Effect for the RPG elements, not the terrible 3rd person shooter that comprises half the game. I sure won’t be playing multiplayer, if this turns out to be true, and I sure as hell don’t want to be paying for it!
colmshan1990
But you’re not going to pay more for it, unless you buy it second hand and choose to buy the online pass.
AAA games always sell at the same price, regardless of whether or not multiplayer is included, so that’s a pretty poor argument.
Especially when you consider that the trade-in value of the game will take longer to drop too.
maneorix
Noooooooooooooooooooo.
Please let it not be so :(
Barumaru
Agreed …. No no no no!!! Multiplayer will ruin it.Id rather the dev team spend all their time putting effort into making the single player the best it can be
colmshan1990
I feel multiplayer could work quite well in Mass Effect, just like Bioshock.
If you don’t want it, don’t play it. It doesn’t affect the single-player, does it?
maneorix
That’s the sort of question you’ll never know the answer to. Sure if, IF it didn’t in any way, then that would be fine – but there are always small sacrifices along the way.
Anyway I can’t see the point or how it would fit the whole ME gameplay.
colmshan1990
Nobody seems to think it hurt Bioshock 2, Uncharted 2, GTA IV or Dead Space 2.
How many times can you say it has ruined a big game, from a big studio delivering a AAA game?
Because I can’t think of any.
maneorix
Who is ‘nobody’? The only game mentioned where I agree with your statement is UC2 – ND just outright rule. GTAIV was lacking in a lot of areas compared to San Andreas – and since it there was a GEN change in between you can’t really use that as a comparison.
The singleplayer parts of both BS2 and DS2 weren’t quite up to scratch with originals, and in DS2’s case the MP bombed. Also Mass Effect is majorly different game from all the ones you’ve mentioned, as it is an RPG first (how the game is built).
After thinking it through it’s highly likely that if any sort MP is added it will be online co-op, there is no way they will be adding any sort of MP game mode. They’ve stated this quite a few times on the official forums. That was for ME3, in later games with a different story they’ve said they are open to the idea.
R4U Eldave0
I agree Uncharted 2 and Dead Space 2 were as awesome as I hoped but I hated Bioshock2 in every way and choose to blame the generic multi modes they threw in for no reason! Instead of wasting their time on that car crash they could have focused on the basic idea that when playing as a Big Daddy you shouldn’t feel as weak as tesco value paper ;D (PS I hated GTAIV fullstop)
colmshan1990
In Bioshock 2, it was a completely seperate development team for the multiplayer compared to the single-player, they didn’t affect each other at all.
R4U Eldave0
Crappy multiplayer mode that pretty much no ME fan wants will be tacked on, along with an annoying reach Level 50 online grind trophy. Called it ;(
TSBonyman
Mass Effect 2 has to be one of my favourite games ever and although this talk about mp worries me slightly i would be ok with a co-op mode.
The Lone Steven
Mass Effect doesn’t need Multiplayer. the 2 previous games were huge and had a load of replayabilty.
It is most likely the cerbus/alliance network. If ME does have Multiplayer, it would be filled with people spamming a certain power, camping and me ragequiting and playing the single player to spite those people. ;p
But seriously, i really hope there is no mutliplayer. If there is then i would like EA to sell 3 versions of ME3, one version contains the Single Player only, the other Multlplayer only and the final version, both together. :)