There's been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Mass Effect 3, since the game's release last week. There's been the day one From Ashes DLC, the use of a stock image, and the addition of multiplayer, but perhaps nothing has compared to the fan uproar over the game's ending. While some fans are perfectly content with how Mass Effect 3 "ends" the trilogy, others, without spoiling it, would just like some more "closure".
For the first time, BioWare has spoken about the game's "polarizing" ending. Speaking to Digital Trends, Director and executive producer Casey Hudson said the goal was to get people talking about the game and it's ending.
"I didn’t want the game to be forgettable, and even right down to the sort of polarizing reaction that the ends have had with people–debating what the endings mean and what’s going to happen next, and what situation are the characters left in," he explained.
"That to me is part of what’s exciting about this story. There has always been a little bit of mystery there and a little bit of interpretation, and it’s a story that people can talk about after the fact."
While his statements still don't give any comfortable closure to fans who want a "sure" ending, at least we know there was reason behind the endings. These statements probably don't sit well with fans who would prefer a definitive ending over "talking about it" with others, but at least it's something.
As for the possibility of a new ending arriving via DLC, Hudson didn't exactly rule it out, but I wouldn't bet on it. Hudson did say that they "pay very close attention" to fan reaction when it comes to Mass Effect.
"We will always listen to feedback, interpret it and try and do the right thing by our fans," Hudson said. Whether or not that means a new ending remains to be seen.
"If you look at Mass Effect 2 we knew that people wanted to spend more time with a character like Liara, and so we created an ongoing storyline with her as part of the comics and then built it into the DLC stuff, and we’re always listening to fans," he added.
Either way, Hudson promised, "We have some really great multiplayer content and some really great single-player content coming over the air, and their feedback will become part of how we design that."
Meanwhile, Mass Effect fans are continuing a petition for BioWare to change Mass Effect 3's ending. The Retake Mass Effect fan campaign has been appealing for funds to get the movement taken seriously by BioWare. Currently, the group has raised over $30,000 of which will be donated to the gaming charity Child's Play.
Without spoiling it for others, were you disappointed with the Mass Effect 3 ending?
