BioWare announces Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut

BioWare has announced the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, a free download for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that addresses the controversial ending of the game. It provides "additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes" to the ending, and launches this summer. The Extended Cut is designed to give players "seeking further clarity to the ending of Mass Effect 3 deeper insights into how their personal journey concludes", BioWare said. BioWare boss Ray Muzyka commented: "We are all incredibly proud of Mass Effect 3 and the work done by Casey Hudson and team. "Since launch, we have had time to listen to the feedback from our most passionate fans and we are responding. With the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut we think we have struck a good balance in delivering the answers players are looking for while maintaining the team's artistic vision for the end of this story arc in the Mass Effect universe." Executive producer Casey Hudson added: "We have reprioritized our post-launch development efforts to provide the fans who want more closure with even more context and clarity to the ending of the game, in a way that will feel more personalized for each player."

What I am hoping for:


1. Definitive answer to whether or not the mass relay explosions destroyed nearby planets
2. Explanation for what the heck was going on with the Normandy at the end
3. Explanation of what the "Shepard breathing" scene means and what happens after
4. General answers to what happens to the important characters in the immediate aftermath of the ending scenes

It sounds like the Indoctrination Theory and/or the hopes that the entire endgame scenario would be reworked are not coming to fruition, and that the existing ending will stand, just with some more clarification and (hopefully) patching up the plot holes. The ending may still be inconsistent and unsatisfying in other ways, but if they can at least get it to make some basic, logical sense, I think I'll be happy with that.

I'd honestly just be happy if I got Sandlot paragraphs with freezeframes of each character telling me what happened to them.

"Garrus went on to become a famous wrestler known as the Great Hambino."


I was more or less fine with how shit ended, but I'll never argue with them expanding on things.

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Originally Posted by IanKazimer "Garrus went on to become a famous wrestler known as the Great Hambino."

"The Calibrator."

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi "The Calibrator."

My man.

Well... at least it's free. If these "explanations" aren't up to snuff however then I'm selling my game. A shame because it has the only version of horde I can stomach for more than 1 hour, but it's pointless to keep playing when I'm not comfortable buying any DLC even for longevity's sake. I'm pretty close to taking a break from the mode anyway out of boredom.

Originally Posted by Ink.So.Well. I'm pretty close to taking a break from the mode anyway out of boredom.

I still need like 500 kills for Veteran. Debating whether to play some more multi or just import my "everyone died" ME2 character into ME3 for grins.

You might as well do an "EVERYBODY GETS/GOT F*CKING SHOT" playthrough. I still haven't finished mine with my Engineer yet. Tried to earlier this week, realized how pointless it was and headed straight back to MP. Bad enough the game decided not to acknowledge the other saves I had in that profile so none of the DLC counted. Liara Super Mary Sue'd her way to becoming the SB and both Kasumi and Masani are nowhere to be found.

Mine is an Engineer too. It was actually my ME2 Insanity playthrough and I had done the minimum number of missions possible. Almost nobody was loyal and the only survivors were Zaeed, Grunt, and Jack, presumably because they're so hardcore.

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi BioWare announces Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut

Wahoo, glad to see it's free, these are probably the edits that Casey Hudson and Mac Walters decided to cut in the end. Yes yes, people do need to know what happened and screw that speculation theory. Kind of sad to see the Indoctrination theory probably not becoming reality. I guess this was fan's overwhelming hopes, (I know it was mine). Still fans and I believe that the choices from previous actions all doesn't matter if they're sticking with this ending (that'll have to depend on how varied the extended cut becomes). I'll see more when I play through it though.

Originally Posted by IanKazimer I'd honestly just be happy if I got Sandlot paragraphs with freezeframes of each character telling me what happened to them. "Garrus went on to become a famous wrestler known as the Great Hambino." I was more or less fine with how shit ended, but I'll never argue with them expanding on things.

Kudos to Bioware, I know not many other developers out there that would go this route, well maybe a select few lol (I'm thinking of Valve, Bethesda and Gearbox in particular) but yeah I think this is one of the right moves. Seriously though if Bioware did something akin to an Animal House ending like this fan created one, I would be happy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG4EyfXOTJ4

Originally Posted by Ryuukishi What I am hoping for: 1. Definitive answer to whether or not the mass relay explosions destroyed nearby planets 2. Explanation for what the heck was going on with the Normandy at the end 3. Explanation of what the "Shepard breathing" scene means and what happens after 4. General answers to what happens to the important characters in the immediate aftermath of the ending scenes It sounds like the Indoctrination Theory and/or the hopes that the entire endgame scenario would be reworked are not coming to fruition, and that the existing ending will stand, just with some more clarification and (hopefully) patching up the plot holes. The ending may still be inconsistent and unsatisfying in other ways, but if they can at least get it to make some basic, logical sense, I think I'll be happy with that.

As for me I'm def looking for those and 5. Explanation of what that Grandfather telling the son portion of the ending was all about.
also 6. Bioware admitting they trolled everyone with that Tali photoshop, pleaaase!

I think the way they're handling the ending DLC is the best way. Further clarification (for free) is probably the only viable solution for them without losing integrity and without further pissing off it's fan base. I do wish it was arriving sooner.

Originally Posted by Spybreak8 Seriously though if Bioware did something akin to an Animal House ending like this fan created one, I would be happy:

That is hysterical. Sidebar with the Justicar!

Originally Posted by zewone I think the way they're handling the ending DLC is the best way. Further clarification (for free) is probably the only viable solution for them without losing integrity and without further pissing off it's fan base. I do wish it was arriving sooner.

They lost integrity when they fundamentally altered the story and the player's understanding of the universe by releasing DLC. To me, any change to the ending would be comparable, and in no way a compromise of "artistic integrity." If they're willing to release commercial content that alters the game in such an important way, then they lose the right to claim further edits would be harmful. That's a double standard.

Anyways, this is going to amount to a few extra scenes that had been cut (likely due to reasons of time) added back, and some narrative VO. Nothing too substantial, unless they bring back the main VO cast before summer, and that seems unlikely. Who knows, though.

Spy - Yeah... I was about to say Valve and Bethesda wouldn't bat a single eyelash at doing this sort of thing. The latter especially given how well received Broken Steel was for Fallout. Speaking of which... WHERE IS MAH FALLOUT 4 I HAVE MONEYS TO GIVE YOU! D;

Ryu - LOL. Only Grunt and Zaeed survived my Ultra Renegade Sheploo Soldier playthrough. I only did maybe 1 - 2 loyalty missions for XP sake (Miranda still died lulz) and ZERO ship upgrades. It was a damn massacre. I still have NO IDEA how either of those bums survived. I worked so hard trying to kill everyone.

This female version is more Paragade Light but I've still killed or gotten a plenty of characters killed Tali would have been next since I don't plan on importing my other profiles. It was so satisfying screwing Wreav on the Genophage cure. I did the galaxy a favor. I hated that guy.

I am honestly shocked about this. I am cautiously optimistic. It's a step in the right direction, but man, it is going to take a ton of explanation to cover up those massive plot holes introduced by the ending. Since it's due out in the summer, I wonder if these new scenes will be fully voiced. I hope so. Closure for the squad and crew deserves it.

I don't see how they can fully repair the damage done to the themes and the story by the starchild , but at least this is better than nothing, I guess. Looking forward to more information in the future.

Honestly I don't think they can pull it off, but if they can then I'll gladly support them via DLC. This WILL however be my last ME game regardless of the presentation or genre. Between this and the Retribution novel (which BioWare IMMEDIATELY apologized for due to fan outcry, disregarded it as a non-canon affair and promised there would be a REVISED version released to the public in the future) I won't be taking another gamble on this franchise again. The faith from both a fan/gamer and customer buying a product perspective is gone. Once you've successfully pissed off both I'm done with you.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Dragon Age. I didn't mind the second game that much, but I miss Origins and didn't appreciate how quickly their team bashed fans for hating it. I might check out the third game. I might just call it quits with the company period. *shrug*

Guess we're getting the Fallout/Dragon Age ending text with pictures afterall.

Wonder if the outrage would have been just as bad if they did that in the first place?

The timing of the announcement amuses me the most, actually. No doubt they've had this planned for a while, but announcing it now they can hope to defuse the worst of the tension that they would've faced at PAX. I'm not sure how well that'll work though.

Well, At least its free. While I wish they had done the "its all a dream" bit with the ending I suppose this could be alright. Hopefully they explain what happened with the mass relays and what happened if you picked Destroy and got Shepard to live.

Originally Posted by JustYourAverageJoe The timing of the announcement amuses me the most, actually. No doubt they've had this planned for a while, but announcing it now they can hope to defuse the worst of the tension that they would've faced at PAX. I'm not sure how well that'll work though.

Yup, I would bet a dollar that any and all questions regarding the ending are quickly shut down with a "Oh, we already made our announcement yesterday, that fully addresses all concerns and answers all questions. Next!"