Mass Effect 4 Shouldn't Be In an Arms Race With Another Upcoming Sci-Fi Game

Mass Effect 4 Shouldn’t Be In an Arms Race With Another Upcoming Sci-Fi Game

• Mass Effect 4 and Exodus may share similarities, but they should be judged on their own merits.
• While Exodus could appeal to Mass Effect fans, both games will likely have core differences.
• BioWare and Archetype Entertainment aim to create unique experiences with Mass Effect 4 and Exodus.

It’s been a while since the last Mass Effect game, so fans are naturally wondering what kind of approach Mass Effect 4 will take when it comes to its narrative, gameplay, and foundational RPG design. Of course, many have speculated that the next game will be a return to form for Mass Effect as a franchise, but the game could also take inspiration from other RPGs released in the wake of Mass Effect 3 and Andromeda. Regardless of ME4’s general design, there will surely be comparisons drawn between Mass Effect 4 and other sci-fi RPGs, with one potential comparison seemingly particularly likely.

Announced at last year’s The Game Awards, Exodus is set to make a splash in the world of narrative-driven science-fiction games. Thanks to the game’s setting, RPG classification, and the composition of its development team, comparisons to the Mass Effect franchise have already begun, and some may think that Exodus will be positioned as a rival to Mass Effect 4. While it’s possible that there will be some overlap between the two games, they will have a number of core differences as well, and it might not be the best idea to think of them as being in direct competition.

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Exodus and Mass Effect 4 Should Be Judged On Their Own Merits

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Why Exodus Is Being Compared to Mass Effect

Although little is known about the game, Exodus is sure to appeal to Mass Effect fans. As a narrative-led RPG set amidst the stars, with a reported emphasis on narrative and science-fiction themes over hard-hitting action, Exodus may seem like something of a spiritual successor to Mass Effect. The game will also feature a companion system, which sounds similar to Mass Effect’s.

The similarities don’t end there, though. Perhaps the biggest connection between Exodus and Mass Effect is the fact that the former’s developer, Archetype Entertainment, is composed of former BioWare staff, including James Ohlen, BioWare’s former Creative Director. As BioWare pushes ahead with Mass Effect and Dragon Age over the next few years, it may only be natural to view Archetype Entertainment as a competitor to the famous EA studio.

Mass Effect 4 and Exodus Will Likely Be Different Types of Games

Despite the obvious surface-level, genre-related similarities and the connections between Archetype and BioWare, there’s a good chance that Exodus and Mass Effect 4 will ultimately be very different games. For one thing, as Exodus will be Archetype Entertainment’s debut release, it’s likely that the company will want to stand out from the crowd, releasing a unique game that doesn’t run the risk of being considered a rehash or carbon copy of another, more established franchise. BioWare, on the other hand, is looking to resurrect a once-beloved series, reincorporating features, design staples, and narrative elements from previous Mass Effect games and attempting to make them work in a new, modern context.

Alternatively, Exodus’s former BioWare developers may be aiming to recapture the spirit of the classic Mass Effect or Dragon Age games, while BioWare itself might be trying to push Mass Effect into the future with its next entry, taking more creative risks and implementing more radical changes. Ultimately, each game will bring its own strengths and weaknesses to the table, and differences in creative vision, budget, and franchise context will result in Exodus and Mass Effect 4 being necessarily different from one another.

Exodus looks like an interesting sci-fi story with key elements of RPG interactivity, while Mass Effect 4 is promising to reintroduce a beloved IP to modern audiences. They each have different goals and selling points, and players should embrace the distinctions between the two games. Best case scenario: gaming audiences can get their hands on two stellar RPG games at around the same time.

Mass Effect Trilogy

Mass Effect Trilogy is a compilation featuring BioWare’s Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mess Effect 3. The Trilogy also contains all of the downloadable content for the first two games including Lair of the Shadow Broker, Stolen Memory, Bring Down the Sky, and Overlord.

Developer(s)BioWarePublisher(s)MicrosoftFranchiseMass EffectGenre(s)Third-Person Shooter, Action RPG See at Amazon