Mass Effect fans believe they’ve spotted a hint that the series’ signature morality system could be returning in Mass Effect 5.
While developer BioWare hasn’t confirmed anything either way, meaning we can only take this with a bucket of salt for now, fans like X user Kalaelizabeth believe they’ve spotted a sneaky nod to the Paragon/Renegade system from Mass Effect hidden in plain sight.
Take the post embedded below, which includes an official promotional image for the upcoming Mass Effect game that, at first glance, may not tell us much.
Look a little closer, however, and you can see why fans are drawing the conclusions they are. Regardless of whether or not you believe the image is a sneaky acknowledgment that the morality system is returning, it’s a curious image for BioWare to have shared, especially when it’s overlaid by the iconic Paragon symbol:
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The flames of speculation have been fanned even further by the post Kalaelizabeth cited. BioWare project director and executive producer Michael Gamble recently commented on the series’ long-running morality mechanics, acknowledging that although more players opted to be a Paragon, i.e. a “good” Shepard, in the trilogy original, the way to play is ““no point” unless there is also the ability to be “bad”.
“Regarding Renegade and Paragon, yes, it’s true that more people played Paragon. But it wouldn’t have made sense if Renegade hadn’t existed. The ability to choose is stronger than the number of people playing any option, in my opinion ” Gamble tweeted (thanks, TheGamer).
Does all this mean that Paragon/Renegade will “fully return” for Mass Effect 5? At all. But it’s arguably one of the best interpretations we’ve had yet of why BioWare showed such an interesting image…
As for the long-awaited Mass Effect TV show? An adaptation was first touted in 2021, when former BioWare head writer Mac Walters explained that several factors had contributed to the company changing its initial vision of a film adaptation toward something for the smaller screen. Later that same year, reports emerged claiming that Amazon was “closer to a deal” for a Mass Effect television series, as part of its continued push into sci-fi and fantasy storytelling.
And now those reports have been confirmed. Variety revealed on N7’s most recent day, November 7, 2024, that a Mass Effect TV series is now officially in development at Amazon, with the writer of 10 Cloverfield Lane and Fast & Furious 9 (aka F9: The Fast Saga), Daniel Casey, writing and executive producer duties.
