BioWare explains how Mass Effect: Andromeda's multiplayer connects to single-player narrative

The studio learned its lesson after mixed reception to Mass Effect 3's multiplayer connectivity.

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In an interview with Kotaku, Mass Effect: Andromeda producer Mike Gamble explained how the game's multiplayer mode connects to its solo campaign.

"There's a system that we use called the Strike Team system, and fundamentally it allows you to go between single-player and multiplayer within the game," Gamble said.

Andromeda's multiplayer focuses on a meta story set within Helios, the pocket of the universe where the game takes place. Players can ignore multiplayer completely without missing any of the story beats, or hop back and forth between single-player and online play.

Playing through Mass Effect 3's multiplayer wasn't technically required to view the game's best endings, but skipping it meant taking the longer route to those endings. Andromeda's multiplayer aims to be more seamless—players won't have to quit out to the main menu to jump between modes.

"I can tell you that there's a loading screen—it's not entirely seamless—but it won't require you to stop your game and restart in a different mode. Because narratively it's all connected, it makes a lot of sense," Gamble continued.

Another lesson learned from the previous Mass Effect trilogy: no season pass to gate access to DLC expansions. However, BioWare has not disclosed a DLC roadmap detailing whether DLCs will be free or premium content and, if the latter, how much they'll cost.

Mass Effect Andromeda launches on March 21.

Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.

From The Chatty
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      January 10, 2017 5:35 PM

      Nothing against this multiplayer implementation, but I'm glad I'll be able to skip it. I don't play multiplayer in general, so it's to know I won't miss anything by sticking to the campaign.

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      January 10, 2017 5:41 PM

      Seems like a fare way to implement thins and an improvement over what they did with the readiness level in 3.

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      January 10, 2017 6:45 PM

      Meh it was always the SP that interested me about mass effect

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      January 10, 2017 6:57 PM

      Wonder if its like the division?

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      January 10, 2017 7:01 PM

      All that matters to me is that it be completely optional. I don't want any MP in my ME.

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        January 10, 2017 7:20 PM

        ME3 had pretty fun horde mode co-op.

        Certainly not for everyone but it was well done for what it was in my opinion.

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          January 11, 2017 2:13 AM

          But what sucks is they tied It to the single player. The multiplayer should not have any effect on single player.

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            January 11, 2017 2:21 AM

            Didn’t it get patched pretty fast to where the MP was less of a determination for the best ending? IIRC that’s all the MP was good for, a better ending....

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              January 11, 2017 2:31 AM

              It was at least half year after the premiere. Or maybe even longer. Without the "ending" DLC you were not able to get sufficient amount of points playing SP only for Shepard to live. It was really shitty, regardless of how good MP was.

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