When multiplayer first debuted in Mass Effect 3, it was a surprise hit. At the time, adding multiplayer to a single-player RPG was unconventional, but the wave-based co-op mode, similar to Gears of War’s Horde mode, became a hit. Many players spent hours battling through the challenging waves, facing some of the toughest enemies in the Mass Effect universe while playing as various alien races. It was a fun experience whether you were playing with friends or strangers, and a lot of time was surprisingly sunk into it.
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition and No Multiplayer
With the release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition – the remastered collection of the original Mass Effect trilogy – the question of whether multiplayer would return has already been answered: it won’t.
In an interview with GameInformer prior to the release of the Legendary Edition in 2021, BioWare confirmed that multiplayer would not be included in the remastered collection. The main reason was the complexity of implementing multiplayer during development. There were also concerns about post-launch support, including questions about cross-play compatibility between the old PS3 version of Mass Effect 3 and the new version for PS4, as well as whether players of the original multiplayer would still be active.
BioWare made it clear that they prioritized the aspects most important to their fans, so while the multiplayer wasn’t part of the Legendary Edition, the focus was on recreating the trilogy with full dedication to its single-player experience. The team felt that remaking three games with multiplayer added would have been too much, considering the complexities involved. Mac Walters even used an unusual Porsche analogy to explain the decision: “It’s one thing to take a 1982 Porsche that needs to be fully restored, but now imagine it was buried in concrete.” This highlights the immense work it would have taken to bring back the multiplayer.
Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Still Alive
For players disappointed by the absence of multiplayer in the Legendary Edition, there’s still a silver lining: Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer is still alive and well. A dedicated community of fans continues to play the co-op multiplayer mode, and there are enough players around to fill a full team. The wave-based mode, which has players fighting off enemies while completing objectives, continues to attract players even years after its original release.
So, while Mass Effect Legendary Edition doesn’t bring back the multiplayer if you’re still craving that experience, Mass Effect 3 multiplayer remains accessible and has a passionate, albeit niche, fanbase keeping it going.
The Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which includes all of Commander Shepard’s galactic adventures from the original trilogy, was released on May 14, 2021, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
