Mass Effect is one of the most beloved franchises in science fiction history and fans have been eagerly awaiting the chance to play the original trilogy on PS4 and Xbox One since the consoles released in 2013. Where Crash Bandicoot, BioShock: The Collection, and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection sold millions of copies remastering trilogies for the latest consoles, EA has spent the majority of this console generation staying clear of re-releasing games from its back catalog. It wasn't until the last couple of years that it finally took the plunge by releasing Burnout Paradise Remastered and Command & Conquer Remasted, giving fans hope that the dream of seeing the Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered could be on its way after all this time.
EA Play came and went without an announcement but that hasn't stopped ongoing rumors suggesting not only is the Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered absolutely in development, it's going to be released later this year. Considering EA doesn't currently have any big releases scheduled for the holiday season after FIFA 21, it's entirely plausible the publisher still has one more surprise in store for the Fall. If Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered is releasing at the end of the year, here's what fans can expect.
Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster Reveal
As with all remasters, it seems BioWare fans could reasonably expect a massive graphical overhaul, likely bringing the first three games in line with Mass Effect: Andromeda's fluid graphics. A full remake would be required to do much more, at least to the fundamental gameplay elements and more, but that doesn't mean it would be lacking in content. A remaster of the full Mass Effect Trilogy is practically required to include and improve upon all DLC in each game, as well as potentially include cut content.
Expecting much more may be a bit out there, but at the same time, revealing this much would be more than enough for many fans. A reasonable price tag, given that the games are relatively old, and a proper, hype-inducing reveal would all but surely sell the game. The question becomes when the game will be revealed now that EA Play has passed, but there's still summer events to consider, a random announcement that can't be taken off the table, and more. It seems safe to say BioWare's hands are full at the moment, but if the game releases in 2020, it should be coming relatively soon.
Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster Release Date
Whether or not the rumors are true, one thing they all have in common is the potential release window for when EA is planning to drop the remastered Mass Effect trilogy. With big-name franchises like Battlefield and Star Wars: Battlefront taking the year off, EA currently has four games scheduled to release between now and the end of the year: Rocket Arena, Madden 21, FIFA 21, and Star Wars: Squadrons. Believed to be the "HD remake of an EA game" that was mentioned in EA's May earnings call, Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered appears to be taking that Fall 2020 slot but would need to be released by the end of March 2021 either way.
With this in mind, it leads to two possibilities: a fall 2020 release with a late summer reveal, or a by-March 2021 spring release with a fall reveal. The former seems to be the most likely scenario and there's a ton of upcoming events for it to be revealed, but fans should keep their expectations in check.
The Mass Effect Trilogy is one of the most requested remakes in video game history, and following the negative response to Mass Effect Andromeda in 2017, fans are eager to revisit the beloved series. EA doesn't have a whole lot on the horizon for players that don't subscribe to its annual sports franchises, which is fairly disappointing considering its one of the biggest publishers in video games and a brand new console generation is less than six months away. We know next-gen games are in development, and that's great but while we wait for the next big thing, right now could be the perfect time to release the Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered.
Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered is rumored to be in development.