They're just going to "explain" it. There is a post going around on BSN explaining it - an EA rep from the Latin American division had initially leaked it. I don't know what I prefer to be honest but if they're just going to make up a bunch of shitty excuses about how all the bullshit that happened at the end actually happened, then I can wait until this game hits the used bargain bins. I was going to wait around for the inevitable Complete edition but I don't know... 
 
Source 
 
EDIT: I know they never said they were going to change it but the countless people on the internet did, news headlines did, and thus many became hopeful. This is just a little bit (regardless of the strange source) that tells those people that they never intended to change it. Sheesh.

Yeah, I remember the news story here, or elsewhere I'm not sure, that said they were just "clarifying" it. It's still technically a change, but so what.

@xyzygy said:

EA rep from the Latin American division

Looks legit.

Everything makes me sad.

They were never going to change it.

They specifically used the word 'clarify' in their crafted PR statement.

Of course they're not going to change the ending. They're going to "clarify" it.

Really, they should've just not committed to anything. The whole thing was probably a week away from blowing over. Now everyone's gonna get pissed all over again.

I would like to see them attempt to explain some of the stuff from the end without digging themselves further into the rediculous fantasy hole.

@Dany said:

They were never going to change it.

They specifically used the word 'clarify' in their crafted PR statement.

Yeah, they were pretty specific about it being a clarification rather than a change.

I would like to see them attempt to explain some of the stuff from the end without digging themselves further into the rediculous fantasy hole.

I feel like any DLC this close to release has been in the works for awhile. Whether bio ware anticipated this much of an uproar, I don't know, but it feels cheap.

The DLC has to be free.

I think i've come to terms with it. I am interested on how they will "clarify" it though.

They might not be swapping it out entirely, but they'll still need to change it in order to clarify it, and that's still kinda embarassing.

Looking forward to seeing what they do with it.

They were never going to change it.

They specifically used the word 'clarify' in their crafted PR statement.

@Sackmanjones said:

@Dany said:

They were never going to change it.

They specifically used the word 'clarify' in their crafted PR statement.

Wait, you actually read what they said? How dare you! Seriously, I have put this same thing on every thread about this topic and nobody seems to understand what clarify means.

Dude, I know.

No one ever said they were going to overtly change it.

They should add a white option. The option that asks you to insert the Mass Effect 1 disc that adds the combat from the third one.

Good.

@jillsandwich said:

No one ever said they were going to overtly change it.

Tons of people said this, just no one from Bioware did.

I haven't played or finish the game yet but what the fuck, Mass Effect isn't Lost or Tree of Life. It can't be that weird of an ending

Personally, I've never thought they are going to do anything other than what they have always planned on doing. I kinda assumed they had always planned on some DLC to elaborate on and/or extend the ending, but after the crazy reaction, it made it seem like they were making it in response.

Of course, my assumption could be totally wrong and they actually are making something in response to the crazy fan reaction. Either way, I don't really care.

@xyzygy said:

@Dany: I knew that, but this is for those who were holding out for a new ending or whatever. Because I know there are some hopefuls out there. And as @GunslingerPanda pointed out the source is a little strange, so who knows - but perhaps it had to come from somewhere? It's really all just speculation but if it turns out to be true then we'll know at least where it came from and to not get our hopes up or lower them. Although it's pretty shitty that they're going to stick by this ending and try to drive its "logic" down our throats.

I think the statement "drive its 'logic' down our throats" is a bit extreme. I don't think anyone is holding anyone at gunpoint until they claim that they believe the ending.

Or are they?

After all the drama over ME3 I just don't care what they do with any of it. The thought of playing more Mass Effect just seems silly to me right now.

I also didn't like ME3 for reasons other than the ending, so whatever. No buy from me.

Good for all the people that actually still care, which is a lot of people.

The ending should just have words pop up on the screen and say "Thank you for playing the Mass Effect trilogy, now play form the beginning of it to get the real ending. *insert Mass Effect within five seconds or everything on your 360 will be erased.*"

That was obvious from the statement they released weeks ago but again... people are fucking stupid and took it in a context it was never meant to be taken in. I don't see how this is a surprise AT ALL.

@Yanngc33 said:

I haven't played or finish the game yet but what the fuck, Mass Effect isn't Lost or Tree of Life. It can't be that weird of an ending

well I haven't seen lost or tree of life so I have no context to say it's weird compared to them or not, but whooo boy (and I actually like the ending because it's fucking hilarious but that's just me)

also if this DLC isn't free you can say goodbye to any amount of good will bioware has

Yeah...they said clarify. Right there, in the statement.

@Animasta said:

also if this DLC isn't free you can say goodbye to any amount of good will bioware has

That's the one thing I feel might have changed in response to the reaction. I could see them making the DLC they were already planning on making, but put it up for free instead of charging whatever they were going to charge. Especially if it actually is something small they are making in response to the fan reaction. Something to just elaborate on the ending, but will have no real game play. That being said, I could also see them charging for it. Wouldn't surprise me either way.

@MetalBaofu said:

@Animasta said:

also if this DLC isn't free you can say goodbye to any amount of good will bioware has

That's the one thing I feel might have changed in response to the reaction. I could see them making the DLC they were already planning on making, but put it up for free instead of charging whatever they were going to charge. Especially if it actually is something small they are making in response to the fan reaction. Something to just elaborate on the ending, but will have no real game play. That being said, I could also see them charging for it. Wouldn't surprise me either way.

sure, I totally see them charging for it, but they have to weigh two options: Trying to appease fans so that you keep more of the bioware fan base, or you make a quick buck and ruin bioware's reputation to a larger amount of people.

@Yanngc33 said:

I haven't played or finish the game yet but what the fuck, Mass Effect isn't Lost or Tree of Life. It can't be that weird of an ending

Oh boy, I thought just like you right up until about 10 days ago when I finally finished ME3. In fact, my first thought immediately after finishing, while the credits were rolling, was "I haven't seen an ending that nonsensical since LOST".

Good. I would have lost respect for Bioware if they changed the ending. It is what it is. Good or bad that is the ending they released with the final product. Changing it to meet consumer demands ruins the product's creative credibility. Plus it builds in an expectation for Bioware, and other developers, that if consumers make enough noise they get whatever they want. That's bull-shit. Don't like what they did? Don't buy their next product then. But don't fuck up their current creative product over hurt feelings, assumptions about the nature of the ending, and potential 'EA did this that and the other' conspiracies.

@Animasta: Yeah, that's the main reason that I wouldn't be surprised if they did make it free. As well as it possibly being something that just has story stuff and no real game play/achievements/etc.

Of course they're not going to change the ending. They're going to "clarify" it.

Really, they should've just not committed to anything. The whole thing was probably a week away from blowing over. Now everyone's gonna get pissed all over again.

Almost a month after it has come out, i don't even care anymore. I won't play any of the DLC if it's stuff that takes place before the end, because i have no desire to go back to that universe anymore considering the way it ends.

Brazzers are paying for the DLC to explore the ending. ZZ | CaseyHudson

@rjayb89 said:

Yeah, I remember the news story here, or elsewhere I'm not sure, that said they were just "clarifying" it. It's still technically a change, but so what.

Wonder how they'll do that. "Commander, admiral Hackett would like to brief you on what this mission could or could not entail, and why it is important." "Commander, you have a debriefing waiting for you on your console."

@Breadfan said:

Good.

Exactly.

@me3639 said:

@Breadfan said:

Good.

Exactly.

Indeed.

@FunExplosions said:

@rjayb89 said:

Yeah, I remember the news story here, or elsewhere I'm not sure, that said they were just "clarifying" it. It's still technically a change, but so what.

Wonder how they'll do that. "Commander, admiral Hackett would like to brief you on what this mission could or could not entail, and why it is important." "Commander, you have a debriefing waiting for you on your console."

maybe it's just an intergalactic slide show after the ending

(I would love it if this was just a screen of text)

Note: Poochie Shepard died on the way back to his home planet.

Good.

Man, what have games become? We have to pay for endings now? DLC has honestly gone too far... Even if it is to clarify it, do they admit to making a mysterious ending in order to pull this off? The fuck? Why not write a good ending to a series that is though of greatly. What kind of bullshit is this..

Good. I would have lost respect for Bioware if they changed the ending. It is what it is. Good or bad that is the ending they released with the final product. Changing it to meet consumer demands ruins the product's creative credibility. Plus it builds in an expectation for Bioware, and other developers, that if consumers make enough noise they get whatever they want. That's bull-shit.

@Sooty said:

Brazzers are paying for the DLC to explore the ending. ZZ | CaseyHudson

The Catalyst is gonna be replaced by an Asari housewife who needs Shepard to fix her plumbing. Doing so is the only way to overcome the Reapers and bring euphoria to the galaxy. However, the game will prematurely end once the galaxy is released from the Reapers grip.

But by then everyone will feel an awkward mixture of shame and disgust and decide to just forget about this whole debacle.

~fin

You can clarify bullshit all you like; it's still bullshit.

@Dany said:

@Sackmanjones said:

@Dany said:

They were never going to change it.

They specifically used the word 'clarify' in their crafted PR statement.

Wait, you actually read what they said? How dare you! Seriously, I have put this same thing on every thread about this topic and nobody seems to understand what clarify means.

Dude, I know.

Tell me about it!

I so far beyond the point of caring about the ending. The game was great regardless, so making this non-issue a bigger ordeal is just rehashing what should otherwise have been a blip of Internet rage.

Whatever they do decide, I wouldn't expect it to be free. This is from the same publisher who will take $40 from you for Battlefield 3 unlocks.