It's now been a decade since the release of Mass Effect 3. The controversies surrounding the RPG's release, and particularly surrounding its ending, have long since faded into memory for most. Yet sometimes fans can't help but reflect on the Mass Effect trilogy's release, its impact on the gaming industry, and what happened with its ending. Even former BioWare writer Drew Karpyshyn is reflecting on the Mass Effect trilogy, sharing some previously unconfirmed details about the ending.

Karpyshyn recently held an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit to promote his upcoming book, Time Kings of Las Vegas. During the session, Karpyshyn was asked how he would have concluded the Mass Effect series, a sneaky way of asking him about the trilogy's ending without explicitly mentioning the trilogy's ending. Karpyshyn surprised when he provided an answer, explaining what the original BioWare team was thinking well before Mass Effect 3 was ever written.

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If Karpyshyn is to be believed, the original "rough idea" for Mass Effect 3's ending would have involved "luring the Reapers through the Mass Relays." After that, the entire Mass Relay network would be "detonated," wiping out the reapers while also destroying the entire network of relays connecting the galaxy together. The intent, Karpyshyn said, would be to leave the various planets and civilizations of the galactic community isolated.

Those familiar with the development of the Mass Effect trilogy know that Drew Karpyshyn played a significant role in the writing of both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. He'd then shift to working on Star Wars: The Old Republic, before leaving BioWare in 2012. He'd know the general direction that the Mass Effect franchise was moving toward, but wouldn't necessarily be involved with what happened in Mass Effect 3 or the actual decision-making for its ending.

As Mass Effect 3 players know, the plot point that Karpyshyn is explaining did end up happening. Using the Crucible for any of the endings, short of choosing to do nothing, results in the destruction of the Mass Relay network. The Reapers aren't led into the Mass Relays, however. And the destruction of the network is never expanded on after Mass Effect 3 ends. Perhaps it'll be a plot point explored in Mass Effect 4.

Karpyshyn has long moved on from BioWare and the Mass Effect series, though. He's now working for the Wizards of the Coast-owned studio Archetype Entertainment, working on an entirely new IP. He, like most Mass Effect fans, is perfectly fine ignoring what came before and looking toward what's coming next.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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