Are The Expanse and Exodus The True Heirs to Mass Effect?
Key Points:
- Three major space RPG projects related to Mass Effect are currently in development: BioWare’s official next Mass Effect (expected 2028), Exodus by ex-BioWare devs as a spiritual successor to Andromeda, and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn by Owlcat Games, based on the Amazon Prime series.
- The Expanse: Osiris Reborn focuses on realistic space life and zero-g combat, capturing the atmosphere of the TV show, but currently suffers from janky controls and notably poor voice acting, raising concerns about its final polish and presentation.
- Exodus aims for a grander sci-fi narrative inspired by relativistic time dilation, offering innovative story consequences where time passes differently for characters, potentially delivering a deeply impactful RPG experience with complex choices and long-term effects.
- BioWare’s upcoming Mass Effect sequel relies heavily on existing fan investment and continues the story post-Reaper War, but faces skepticism due to the original trilogy’s definitive ending and BioWare’s recent mixed track record, leading to tempered expectations.
- Overall, the surge of space RPGs inspired by Mass Effect’s legacy offers fans diverse experiences, with each project bringing unique approaches to sci-fi storytelling and gameplay, though their success will depend on execution and innovation beyond nostalgia.