The next game in the Mass Effect series remains mostly a mystery to fans. While there was a reveal of the title at the 2020 Game Awards, and there have been some teaser images and clips since then, not a lot of details about the next game in the series have been locked in. BioWare has confirmed work on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will be completed before another Mass Effect game is released, meaning that there are likely some years to go before fans get to explore either the Andromeda or Milky Way again.
However, even if there is a long wait until Mass Effect 4 releases, this gives fans plenty of time to speculate on what might be coming in the next iteration of the iconic sci-fi franchise. Moreover, this time gives BioWare a chance to look at the series and make some big changes that fans have been requesting for some time. Namely, with Shepard almost certainly out of the picture in Mass Effect 4, and it seeming like Ryder may not make a return as the protagonist, this gives space for a new player character to shine.
Why Playable Alien Races Just Make Sense for Mass Effect 4
Something that the Mass Effect franchise hasn't given players in the fifteen years since the first game released is a playable alien protagonist. While the multiplayer of Mass Effect 3 made alien races playable, these weren't fully fleshed-out characters which means that a lot of players still feel the need to have a non-human protagonist in the series. Of course, this doesn't mean that humans should be disregarded in Mass Effect 4, but considering the intricately designed aliens that exist in BioWare's sci-fi universe, it seems strange none of them have been available as the protagonist.
Just like how Dragon Age allows the player to choose from the human, elf, Qunari, and dwarf races when creating their character, it would simply make sense for Mass Effect to adopt a similar level of choice for gamers. The Turians, Krogans, Asari, and Quarians are all bipedal aliens that appear as companions in the Mass Effect games with their own unique abilities. With the detailed lore for each of Mass Effect's alien races, and the beloved characters that already come from them, players' desire to take on the role of a brutish Krogan or tactical Turian has only increased.
Previously, there was the argument that it simply wouldn't have made sense for Mass Effect to allow the player to have an alien as their protagonist. This is especially clear for those who have played the original trilogy, which follows the story of Commander Shepard, a human who sets out to stop the Reapers while also proving that humanity has a place in the galaxy even though it is one of its youngest races. A lot of Mass Effect's original trilogy is set up around the player being a human, and while this worked for Shepard's story, it seems that Mass Effect 4 has moved on entirely from that narrative, indicating there is space for some more big changes.
Playable Aliens Will Help Mass Effect Depart from Shepard
It has already been rumored that Mass Effect 4 could feature a playable alien race in the form of Liara. Liara is one of the squad mates players can take aboard the Normandy in the original Mass Effect trilogy, and appeared in the Game Awards trailer for the latest game. This has sparked some discussion around the possibility of Liara being the protagonist of Mass Effect 4. However, while this would give fans a healthy dose of nostalgia, it is likely that Liara, and her age shown in the trailer, only confirms that BioWare has made a significant jump forwards in time for Mass Effect 4.
Again, this points to the new game being somewhat of a fresh start for the franchise, and one way that BioWare could further confirm this is by having an alien be playable. This means that fans wouldn't just be getting a clone of Shepard or Ryder in Mass Effect 4, and would instead have somewhat of a blank slate of a protagonist that really fits whatever they want to play. It would be tough to create a reason why a Turian, human, Quarian, Asari, Krogan, and possibly Salarian could have the same mission, but it would also allow the series to move into previously unexplored territory.
There are rumors that BioWare will canonize the Mass Effect 3 destroy ending for the latest game, and that this could hail the return of Commander Shepard. However, despite some fans wanting to see the iconic character come back, the likelihood of them surviving the ending of Mass Effect 3 means BioWare is probably not bringing them back. Again, this will disappoint those who spent hours crafting the perfect Paragon or Renegade Shepard, but it gives the franchise room to grow with a new protagonist and story.
Mass Effect's aliens make up some of the most beloved characters in the franchise. From Shepard's favorite sniping buddy Garrus Vakarian to the multitude of companions who make for great romance options in Mass Effect, there's a reason a lot of players want to step out of the shoes of a human and into some alien boots for once. Even beyond the races already explored in the franchise, there are those such as the Batarians and Vorcha that weren't available as squad mates in the games, and could make for some interesting, refreshing protagonists.
Mass Effect 4 is in development.