The follow-up to one of the most prolific science fiction franchises,Mass Effect 4was first mentioned on July 17, 2025, or N7 Day for Mass Effect fans, in a blog post by then Vice President of Bioware Casey Hudson and further teased through concept art. Fast forward to the Game Awards on June 10, 2025 andMass Effect 4was officially announced with a teaser trailer. While the teaser was relatively cryptic and short, it hinted at who might appear in Mass Effect 4, like one of the original crew members of Mass Effect’s iconic starship, the Normandy SR-1, Liara T’Soni.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be until the next N7 day in 2021 when fans would get another tease of Mass Effect 4 in the form of a deceivinglyobscureMass Effect 4poster; however, the biggest tease would arrive on N7 Day the following year. A short clip of a partly constructed Mass Relay was posted on social media with audio that seems to be Liara exchanging “words” with a Geth. While the clip was scarce and just as cryptic as the teaser trailer, it was enough for fans to piece together a possible timeline ofMass Effect 4and create a wish list of what the next iteration could bring.
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Mass Effect 4 Could Bring More Reactive Dialogue Choices
Mass Effect’s dialogue wheel is one of themost complex dialogue systems in gamesallowing different situations and outcomes depending on choices made on the wheel.Mass Effect 2and3upped the ante by introducing a paragon or renegade option. As a result, there was more control over how Shepard reacted to the various situations presented depending on their moral alignment. This not only led to some of the funniest, albeit brutal, moments inMass Effect, but it allowed for an increased sense of immersion and walking, so to speak, a mile in Shepard’s combat boots for a time.
Mass Effect 4has an opportunity to bring back the dialogue wheel and expand on the paragon and renegade system by giving moments that occur despite Shepard’s choices. An example of this is when the player meetsMass Effect’s Krogan companion Urdnot Wrexwho, if present in the squad during the end of the main quest on the Citadel, executes a prominent crime member, regardless of Shepard’s choices at the time. While shocking, it organically felt fitting to Wrex’s character and madeMass Effectfeel more narratively dynamic.Mass Effect 4could not only include these organic moments that make the world feel more nuanced, but also expand upon them to make something new.
Connect Mass Effect 4 with Mass Effect: Andromeda
WhileMass Effect 4can learn fromAndromeda’smissteps, the latter made relatively substantial strides in differing itself in character dynamics and world-building. The new alien races not only looked different from the species fans are accustomed to, but their lore and history were expansive and exciting. The world-building varied uniquely, building civilization far from the governing bodies of the Citadel Council and Systems Alliance. Given these contributions to theMass Effectfranchise, it would be a shame to retcon the game or let it fade without mentioning it.
Mass Effect 4could connect withMass EffectAndromedaand focus on what makes the game stand apart from the rest of the trilogy. By building on the fundamental character dynamics and improving upon some of the staples of its other iterations,Mass Effect 4could be a vastly different yet familiar inclusion to the franchise. As of now, it’s too early to tell whatMass Effect 4will be about, but given how each tease has slowly given more information, players won’t have to wait too long before seeing the whole picture.
