Confirming what some had suspected ever since BioWare revealed that the current Mass Effect series as we know it would conclude as a trilogy, series producer Michael Gamble dropped the bomb on PC Gamer today that Commander Shepard, regardless of whatever gender version of that character you happen to prefer playing as, will no longer be the star of the show following Mass Effect 3.
With Mass Effect 3, erm, effectively wrapping up the Shepard storyline, the question then turns to what the future may hold for the franchise in general. According to Dr. Ray Muzyka, the future is still entirely bright for the series.
We have ambitious plans to continue this franchise going forward. Mass Effect 3 is simultaneously a couple of different things: a thrilling and epic conclusion to the trilogy as we promised our fans we'd provide for Commander Shepard, but it's also a brand new beginning - it's an entry point for new fans.
While fans of the franchise are undoubtedly pleased to hear that Mass Effect will live on, sans Shepard, it's still a bittersweet piece of news for those who grew accustomed to their particular DudeShep and/or FemShep. Plus, after all the fervor over how FemShep's new hair style would affect gender stereotyping in video games, today's news that the world chose redheaded FemShep to represent female empowerment or something seems just a little less impactful than it would have otherwise. Which is to say, less impactful than already not impactful at all, because Jesus Christ people, it's a goddamned default hairstyle for an editable character in a role-playing game. There are Teen Choice Award voting categories with greater societal meaning than this nonsense.
Oh well, at least this woman will be happy, I guess?