Bioware Addressing Mass Effect 3’s Contemptuous Ending
I’ve already dug into Mass Effect 3’s dissatisfying ending, and I reflected the same feeling quite a lot of you fans out there share: the bulk of the game is brilliant; the ending, however, is derisive, narrow visioned tripe.
While Bioware’s general manager and co-founder, Ray Muzyka, doesn’t agree with the criticism – calling ME3 “the best work we’ve created yet” – he does concede through the Bioware Blog that the developer needs to bend a knee with humility and honor the loyal fans that have seen Shepard through to the bitter end.
Aside from previously planned content still in the works, the development team is working overtime in order to provide fans with the sense of closure they’re missing. Pooling together what you, the fans, have said on numerous social outlets like Facebook and Twitter, as well as forums and gaming outlets, Muzyka says, “Exec Producer Casey Hudson and the team are hard at work on a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions, providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey." We’re likely a bit far off from seeing this content yet, but solid details are coming our way as soon as April.
"It’s incredibly painful to receive feedback from our core fans that the game’s endings were not up to their expectations. Our first instinct is to defend our work and point to the high ratings offered by critics – but out of respect to our fans, we need to accept the criticism and feedback with humility,” admits Ray, in a surprisingly honest open letter to fans. In most circumstances, if a dev is liable to say anything at all, it’s usually the former; defending their work tooth and nail, bouncing criticism (constructive or otherwise) right off.
Mass Effect purveyors, what do you think? I desperately need closure in place of the ambiguous finale my Shepard received, there’s no two ways around that. But to have an official ending altered (or supplemented, as is the case here), possibly damaging Bioware’s original vision for the game, in an attempt to get a gold star in the fan service department? How does this concession sound to you?