BioWare reveals that the Mass Effect TV series to not be based on any game

Mass Effect Legendary Edition | Image via: BioWare
Mass Effect Legendary Edition | Image via: BioWare

BioWare and Prime Video will collaborate for a Mass Effect TV show, although people are not to expect Commander Shepard to reappear. The show will not repeat the events of the games, but instead will be a brand new story, which takes place after the original trilogy. It would entail new characters, new tales, and a new section of the galaxy to journey through, without losing the same emotional, sci-fi thrill that made Mass Effect so popular.

It is a great step for gamers as they do not have to select one definitive official version of the games but rather concentrate on what makes the Mass Effect universe unique: rich politics, alien species, and grand space stories. The new plot also provides the creators with an opportunity to shock not only long-time fans but new ones, with the same universe but a new story.


How the Mass Effect TV series will be its own thing

The forthcoming Mass Effect television show will not re-tell the story of Commander Shepard, as confirmed by BioWare. It will instead be based upon an entirely new storyline that takes place post the events in the original game trilogy.

This is a big departure from the previous discussions that the show could just copy the games. The story of Shepard is difficult to replicate since the actions of each player will render their experience unique, including which player they ally with, who they fall in love with, and how the story concludes.

A new plot allows the show to escape the difficult dilemma of which ending should have been better and gives the writers the liberty to construct a distinct, thrilling narrative that suits television better. The fans can still look forward to enjoyable interrelations with the games, other planets, alien races, and, perhaps, some unexpected cameos, but without tying the series to a single version of the game story.


Why this approach actually benefits both fans and newcomers

Mass Effect as an original show set after the trilogy will actually provide the writers with considerable freedom. They will have the opportunity to explore what happens after the games, immerse themselves in new worlds, cultures, and characters, and reveal regions of the galaxy that we have never seen.

To the old fans, this is thrilling, as it brings in some new tales to the Mass Effect world without altering what they already know. To the first time viewers, it is simpler to follow as the show can now narrate itself and the players do not have to be aware of all that happened in the games.

Other TV shows that are game-based have done well with this type of approach. They do not retell the same story but rather make something new out of the same world. It preserves the spirit of the series without subjecting the world to the never-ending controversy about: which game ending should be considered the real and most favorable one.


What this means for BioWare, the new game, and the timeline ahead

BioWare is not merely testing the waters, but they are also busy working on the Mass Effect TV show, all while developing the next game. The studio is interested in ensuring that the two projects complement each other. It means that the TV show must fit into the narrative without interfering with the timeline and the story of the game.

If Mass Effect starts off immediately from where the original trilogy left, it may deal with the question of how the galaxy has been rebuilt and how politics has evolved following the Reaper war. However, if it takes up from some place well into the future, it would be more free to narrate new stories without having to be bound to one of the game endings.

In either case, BioWare appears to be concentrating on maintaining the interrelation and coherence. The Mass Effect television series can expand the Mass Effect world in exciting new ways, and perhaps even provide hints on what lies ahead for the games.


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Edited by Sohini Biswas