Commander Shepard may not return in the new ‘Mass Effect’ game

It looks like one of Mass Effect’s main characters won’t be returning for the next instalment of the franchise.

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Commander Shepard is the main protagonist of the first three Mass Effect games and ended the franchise as a legendary figure across the universe, depending on the player’s final decision.

EA began development on a new Mass Effect game in 2022, but updates have been few and far between. The same year, it was confirmed Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Deus Ex’s narrative designer Mary DeMarle will be senior narrative designer of the project, which will reportedly be built using Unreal Engine 5.

However, it seems that Commander Shepard won’t be making a return. In a new interview with Dextero Jennifer Hale, the voice actor behind the female Commander Shepard, revealed they haven’t been approached about reprising their role.

This new Mass Effect art is giving me big Star Wars sequels concept art vibes and I’m not mad about it. pic.twitter.com/EINj5kG5sg

— james w (@OmgMoreJames) November 8, 2020

“I don’t think I can get in trouble because I honestly don’t know anything,” Hale said. “I would love to come back, I would come back in a hot second…But I haven’t heard from anyone yet.”

“Let them know what you want,” she continued. “Email BioWare, email EA, start a campaign. I know Mark [Meer] would do it too,” Hale added, with Meer voicing the male version of Commander Shepard.

Bioware did release a fourth Mass Effect game in 2017, with Andromeda seeing players take control of an inexperienced military recruit. The currently untitled new Mass Effect game has been advertised as a continuation of the original trilogy, and a sequel to Andromeda.

In an update at the end of last year, BioWare wrote: “We approach the future of this universe with gratitude and deep respect. Respect for you—the community. Respect for the love and dedication you’ve given to us. Respect for the history and the stories you’ve created, and the characters you’ve fallen in love with. And, respect for the future, and the opportunity to do something big—something amazing—for you.”

In other news, indie studio Flaming Fowl have announced their new project Ironmarked with a free-to-play demo, but also confirmed development has been paused and staff had been let go due to the “lack of funding” in the game industry.