New Mass Effect 2 screenshots show the appearance of old chum Garrus in BioWare's sci-fi RPG sequel and give a closer look at new foes the Collectors and Legion.

Mass Effect 2 arrives for PC and Xbox 360 in North America on January 26, 2010 then January 29 in Europe. Various in-game items are up for grabs if you pre-order, and a Collector's Edition includes further virtual doodads plus an art book and other goodies.

BioWare has announced a Collector's Edition of its sci-fi RPG sequel Mass Effect 2 which adds an assortment of physical and virtual bonus goodies for an extra $10.

Packed into a special tin case are "a 48-page hardcover 'Art of Mass Effect 2' book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos" plus, naturally, a copy of Mass Effect 2.

The Collector's Edition also offers "unique in-game weapons and armor" exclusive to the Collector's Edition, as illustrated in the moody artwork above. Further exclusive items are available with pre-orders at select retailers and in BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins.

Priced at $60 on PC and $70 on Xbox 360, the Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 2 hits alongside the regular on January 26, 2010 in North America then January 29 in Europe.

BioWare's anticipated action-RPG Mass Effect 2 will be released in North America on January 26 and Europe on January 29, the developer announced this morning. The sci-fi sequel is slated to hit both PC and Xbox 360, with "key retailers in North America and across Europe" offering in-game items as pre-order incentives:

In North America, pre-order bonuses* include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard's skills and abilities. At GameStop, Terminus Gear is available with pre-orders... Read more

BioWare has confirmed the Dragon Age: Origins 'Warden's Keep' content included with the PC Digital Deluxe Edition--which is different than the Collector's Edition and only sold via online shops--will also be available as $7 downloadable content at launch.

Warden's Keep brings "a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items."

As was previously announced, the 'Stone Prisoner' DLC found free in all new copies of the game will also be released at $15 for those who buy used when the fantasy RPG hits PC and Xbox 360 on November 3--then PlayStation 3 later in the month.

Available only in new copies is the "Blood Dragon Armor," wearable by characters in both Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2. Have a gander through this trailer... Read more

Mostly topless former gangbanger Subject Zero is introduced in our latest peek into the futuristic mythos of Mass Effect 2. She's not one for subtlety, if you couldn't tell.

BioWare's anticipated action-RPG sequel is due on PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010.

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New Mass Effect 2 screenshots hot off the PAX presses show more of the RPG sequel's potential companion characters Thane and Grunt, plus some good ole explosions.

Published by EA, BioWare's Mass Effect 2 is scheduled to hit PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010, continuing from your Mass Effect save and itself carrying over to Mass Effect 3.

Alongside yesterday's new trailer, BioWare and Electronic Arts are further celebrating Mass Effect 2's GamesCom presence with new screenshots. This batch is meant to provide a look at Grunt, your new Krogan companion. He's said to be rather violent. Described as "the dark second chapter" of a planned trilogy, Mass Effect 2 and its sci-fi take on action-RPGs will arrive on PC and Xbox 360 at some point in early 2010.

With GamesCom kicking off in Germany, EA has issued a new trailer for BioWare's sci-fi action-RPG sequel Mass Effect 2, due on PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010.

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The drell assassin Thane is featured in these new Mass Effect 2 screenshots released by BioWare tonight. The character is one of the many new faces from the upcoming sequel's cast.

Mass Effect 2 is headed to the PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010.

Developer BioWare today revealed that those who buy a new copy of Dragon Age: Origins, be it in standard or collector's edition form, will be rewarded with $15 worth of free downloadable content plus armor that can also be used in Mass Effect 2.

The downloadable Stone Prisoner add-on--free with a new copy, otherwise priced at $15--allows players to add the "mighty stone golem" Shale to their party and is said to bring "hours of additional gameply" though new quests, environments, and items.

New copies of Dragon Age will also include a code to download the Blood Dragon Armor, usable in both Dragon Age and BioWare's upcoming Mass Effect 2. It was not specified if the Armor DLC will be sold separately, though it was described as... Read more

BioWare has repeatedly cautioned players of the first Mass Effect to hold on to their save games for use in the upcoming sequel, and now we have a better idea as to why.

In a chat with PC World, lead producer Casey Hudson spoke at length about the hundreds of ways that actions from the first game, not just "big choices," can change things in the action-RPG sequel due on PC and Xbox 360 early next year:

When you're playing the first game, everything that you do is setting a variable so that as the story progresses we know that you did a certain thing on a certain planet, and then internal to the game, we can reference those things. Your Mass Effect save game contains all of that... Read more

A new Mass Effect 2 developer diary debuted by GameTrailers includes some more footage of the anticipated BioWare sequel. As we reported during E3, one of the possible endings to the game sees protagonist Commander Shepard dying permanently, an event which will carry over into the next game.

Click through to check out the new video:... Read more

BioWare's latest Mass Effect 2 trailer--previously teased--contains both combat and startling story from the action RPG sequel, due to hit PC and Xbox 360 early in 2010.

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Do check out our Mass Effect 2 preview for the hot scoop on what's new, including changes to combat, continuing from your Mass Effect 1 save, and the return of Shepard.

It is no longer be a spoiler to say that Commander Shepard, hero of Mass Effect, lives in Mass Effect 2. Despite the clever teaser trailer, he is again the protagonist.

"We've always said we wanted to create a story about taking one human through [a huge story]," said Mass Effect 2 project director Casey Hudson during a lengthy demo of the game. "And that human is Commander Shepard."

As planned, players can carry over their saved data from Mass Effect, with character choices and gameplay decisions impacting the events of the dark sequel.

The real surprise coming out of E3, however, is that it also isn't a spoiler to say that Commander Shepard dies in Mass Effect 2. ... Read more

Fresh off the E3 presses are the first screenshots of Mass Effect 2, showing shaven headed star Shepard engaging in some downright destructive behaviour.

We'll have more on Mass Effect 2 for you as the week unfolds.

Refreshingly, the following Mass Effect 2 trailer from BioWare shows at least a few clips of gameplay. It also includes plenty of Mass Effect star Shepard, apparently confirming that he's not exactly out of the picture.

Mass Effect 2 is looking at an Xbox 360 and PC release. Stay tuned for extensive coverage of the game at next week's E3.

Click below to view the trailer:... Read more

BioWare has released a new teaser trailer for Mass Effect 2, hyping up the various changes and providing some slightly-obscured gameplay footage of the action-RPG.

The second in a planned trilogy, Mass Effect 2 is slated to hit PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010. A playable demo of the game will be shown at E3, which runs from June 2-4.

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It's a little mindboggling to think of how big BioWare has gotten over the past few years.

On the one hand, the company is developing two major RPGs in Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2. That alone would be an impressive showing.

But on top of those titles, BioWare is also tackling a new Star Wars MMO--a project so daunting, and potentially lucrative, that it almost dwarfs the more traditional efforts.

At last week's Game Developers Conference, I caught up with BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. While I could have easily spent my limited time asking about just one of the projects, I tried to cover all three with a few questions apiece--starting with the old-school RPG being demonstrated next door. ... Read more

Throwing more fuel on the fire, BioWare has teased a few more details regarding Mass Effect 2, telling Shacknews that while the game will indeed make use of saved data from the original--so hold on to those saves--the recent teaser trailer was all true as well.

"How can it fit? That's a surprise," teased BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka.

In case you haven't seen it, that teaser concludes with word that original Mass Effect protagonist Commander Shephard was "killed in action." Of course, there's always the chance that BioWare is utilizing some Kenobi-style "certain point of view" logic here.

The sci-fi action-RPG sequel is due to hit PC and Xbox 360 in early 2010. Below is the relevant bit of our conversation with BioWare heads Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk:

Ray Muzyka: Everything we've said before about keeping your save games, keeping the continuity of the trilogy, is absolutely true... Read more

Several minutes of Mass Effect 2 work-in-progress footage shown at GDC have already leaked onto the internet. The footage includes an early look at some of Mass Effect 2's level design, as well as one short scene of dialogue.

We'll have more on the game in the next few days, including a chat with BioWare chiefs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. For now, check out the video below.

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