With details about Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming out, it has been confirmed that it will not be on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. BioWare clarifies a few reasons why the new Mass Effect game is not coming to the next-generation consoles.
With the PS5 and Xbox Series X out now, many players are starting to make the switch. So much so that the consoles are selling at record rates, and are mostly out of stock. However, it looks like Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will not get a dedicated version. A remaster collection of the original three games, this edition offers a way to experience the classic series in a whole new light. But it sounds like the updates will only be going as far as what is possible on the previous generation.
Fortunately, the collection will be playable on the newest consoles via forward compatibility. BioWare director Mac Walters explains that a next-gen version of the game is out of reach. With a development basis on Unreal Engine 3, the director suggests that next-gen is more than the developers could have done. Claiming that the collection is built for the new consoles could be disingenuous because of these limitations.
Walters firmly denies that there will be a next-gen version or optimization patch for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. That said, he does provide some information on improvements players can expect on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Some perks include faster load times and better framerates. Resolution will be able to stay higher too, and overall it should be a more optimized experience. Therefore, despite no official update, next-gen players will have some extra benefits.
Mass Effect is a series that is well-known among the gaming community, even if the relatively recent Andromeda did not live up to expectations. It is good to hear that Walters does not want Mass Effect: Legendary Edition to suffer from misleading promises. From the interview, it is clear that the team at BioWare has a vision for the collection and it did not include next-gen hardware. There is little point to forcing it just for the sake of release on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Of course, some fans could see this as a downside for the remaster. It is one thing to not launch on next-gen, but another to suggest there will be no optimization patch. With other games like God of War getting a free update, certain players may wonder why BioWare cannot do this too. Nevertheless, the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition will have some improvements on the new consoles that should make it worth picking up.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition launches May 14 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: IGN