Even though the game was met with mixed reviews when it released earlier this year, there's no denying that Mass Effect: Andromeda was one of EA's biggest releases of 2017. Now just a little over six months removed from its initial launch, EA Access and Origin Access subscribers can download Mass Effect: Andromeda for free.

Mass Effect: Andromeda's addition to the EA Access Vault means Xbox One owners have a convenient way of experiencing BioWare's entire sci-fi saga. The original Mass Effect trilogy has been available on the service for quite some time, so subscribers can now play through Commander Shepard's three-game story as well as Commander Ryder's divisive adventure.

While some Mass Effect fans may be worried to see the game added to the EA Access Vault so soon, it really shouldn't be a cause for concern. After all, it's not a reflection of the game's sales performance, as EA routinely adds its best-selling titles, games like Madden NFL and FIFA, to the service within a similar timeframe.

Considering this, fans shouldn't take this as a sign Mass Effect is done. But if fans need even more assurance that they haven't seen the last of the Mass Effect franchise, EA executive Patrick Soderlund recently said that he sees "no reason" not to make a new Mass Effect, regardless of Andromeda's poor critical reception.

Even though Mass Effect: Andromeda was heavily criticized across the board for a number of reasons, perhaps most notoriously its laughably bad facial animations, Mass Effect is still one of EA's biggest franchises. While it may be busy with current projects like a rumored new Dragon Age game and the upcoming Anthem, BioWare likely won't let Mass Effect lay dormant for too long, and perhaps the franchise can return bigger and better than it ever was before.

In the meantime, Mass Effect fans on Xbox One can relive the entire saga through EA Access now that Mass Effect: Andromeda has been added to the Vault. Perhaps this will allow the game to reach gamers that skipped it due to its mixed critical response, and maybe Mass Effect: Andromeda will have a new lease on life.

Mass Effect: Andromeda is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.