What the Hell is a “Shepard 2”? Something the Next Mass Effect Won’t Have
“There is one thing we are absolutely sure of – there will be no more Shepard, and the trilogy is over.” That verdict was laid down by Bioware Montreal’s own Fabrice Condominas when the producer was asked by VG247 what was next for the Mass Effect series.
Apparently, we may not even be presented with a protagonist in the same fashion as the Commander was. “So first, we don’t want to make ‘Shepard 2′, or Mass Effect 4 with like, ‘oh there’s no more Shepard but you’re a soldier in the universe,’“ states Condominas, "So this will be a very, very different context for sure, and nothing has been decided on the rest.”
What’s more, the next Mass Effect may not even continue on after the first trilogy’s events, which after three game’s worth of choices and actions (and after some particularly definite endings) has been made a vastly different universe than the one we began in at the start of Shepard’s adventure. "At this point in time, we don’t even know what kind of time frame we’re going to be in,” admits Fabrice. “All we’re doing is more gathering ideas from the teams, gathering feedback to see several things.”
Take that as you will, but even without the Commander at the forefront (despite the awesome revenge-thirsty, half-cyborg images the name "Shepard 2” conjures), it’s pretty exciting to know that the Mass Effect universe will press on regardless.