Does Mass Effect have a future on PS3?

This month will garnish what is widely regarded as a 2007 Game of the Year candidate. Developed by Bioware, Mass Effect is said to be a spectacular new vision of the future set in a bright universe, with a dark secret. What made this game truly special, at-least to Microsoft is that Bioware had plans to develop this title as an exclusive trilogy with all three games spanning the life span of the Xbox 360 console.

To Microsoft, Mass Effect was, and still possibly is, the bread and butter for the Xbox 360, especially since the Halo trilogy has came to a successful end. However, recent industry transactions have created clouds of doubt over Mass Effect and it's future of the IP still staying 100% exclusive to the Xbox 360. This could lead to the possibility of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 3 coming to the PlayStation 3 console in the future.

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[Odion]

how come this crap can be approved, but other stories don't? I am going to bet you a lot of money that MS is going to throw EA a ton of money to make sure the rest of this trilogy stays on the 360

[ShiftyLookingCow]

yeah nothing new either

[HarryEtTubMan]

Please.... keep it. The PS3 doesn't need any more sci fi alien games( WAYYY OVERDONE this genertation)
I only have a 360 and getting a PS3 probally this month and I'm not getting Mass Effect. It really doesn't look that special at all. I could relly care less if this game out of all the PS3 franchises comes to the PS3. Can you say Uncanny Valley?Look at the faces, they look like cardboard cutouts.

[lawman1108]

And we all know how biased this site is for anything Sony.

[MADGameR]

PS3 does'nt need this game. 360 needs it BADLY! MS can't afford to allow this game to go multiplat. X Box 360 is selling horribly. Infact, MS needs to steal more PS3 exclusives. DMC4 is useless on the 360. Because #1 X Box fans are so slow, they'll put down DMC4 and compare it to Halo 3. Rofl! #2 It won't sell in Japan! #3 X Box 360 owners are ALL about FPS games. So yah....MS needs to steal more games from SONY by slipping checks into devs hands. I'm not saying ALL X Box fans are slow... just the ones that have Halo pride and put down the best games because of a GREAT (ONLINE) Game! Halo series is only good because of multi-player. Without it, it would'nt be what it is today. IMO, Halo 1 was the best in the series. Because it had the best story in the series and a GREAT online for PC! After they sh*tted on H2 and was overhyped, I lost interest in it.

[WEWdeadeye]

What are you talking about? Either you are clearly misinformed, or are just making stuff up. The 360 isn't having ANY problems selling, AT ALL!! In october, the 360 outsold, in the US, the wii by over 100k units, and the ps3 BY OVER 600k units!!! Worldwide, the 360 outsolde the PS3 by over 300k units. So if the 360 is selling like sh!t, I hate to think what you would describe the PS3 sales as being.

[WEWdeadeye]

I own a 360 AND a PS3, I love them both, but lets just get the facts straight please. That's all I was trying to do. Not sure where you got the idea that the 360 was selling poorly, in fact, it is quite the oposite. Last year in october it only sold about 220k units. That is a HUGE increase.

[Nicosia]

''but now given the fact that EA now owns Bioware, Electronic Arts, not Microsoft will publish and distribute Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.''

- its a big thing for MS, you know they will be throwing money.
- Bioware has a rich history with the xbox brand.
- Also you forgot to mention bioware is working with lucasart outside the ea deal.
- Its to premature to say that 2/3 will be publsed by EA.

''until BioWare opted to move the project over to Microsoft’s console due to lack of development kits from Sony. ''

Huh show your sources.

[Elginer]

With BioWare still having individual deals like with the recent Lucasarts project, it says a lot. Also MS is publishing Mass Effect, so I'd assume that they prob have a deal to publish the rest of the trilogy. If not you can bet that with the strong ties that MS and EA have now, that something will come of it. If you don't think that MS is going to tossing bills to make it happen you're insane.

[cooke15]

especially since Moore works for EA now.

[NoUseMerc]

Our source was Richard Vogel, Co-Founder and Director of Bioware Austin. We met with him at GDC, but we didnt put his name in the article cause we have yet to get word back from him if its okay to use his name as a source. We talked with him over launch, and eventhough he didnt say off the record, we want to get permission before quoting him.

[Nicosia]

NoUseMerc:
this articale seems to be flawed and not very well thought out. Your writer seems to be recycling rumor stuff.

[Snukadaman]

With ea losing money...even with 360 sales...It just might make it too ps3...but then again with no one buying ps3 games why bother too port it. They lose money marketing it and then sell less then 100K.

[Real gamer 4 life]

Xbox can keep mass effect. i want ff13 and versus, that the only rpgs that i wan.

[ruibing]

Same feeling here, but I'd Bioware's games so I wouldn't mind this coming to the PS3, but only if EA does a good port.

[ip-student]

handle Mass Effect - the AI, the textures, just wouldn't be possible...

Okay - on a more serious note (because I consider the consoles to be close enough to equal that either console could do anything that is done on the other console) - if Mass Effect does well it seems like EA would be stupid not to port/develop for the PS3. Assuming it doesn't cost too much (and EA has to be getting better with ports with all the practice it has) it would sell a couple of hundred thousand at least just for the respect that Bioware has.

Seems like a no-brainer to me unless MS throws a lot of money to keep it exclusive but I don't think MS will buy future exclusives as much - MS has the lead and is going to maintain good momentum. It will take two years at least for the PS3 just to catch up given the price difference. Third parties have accepted the XBOX 360 as a great platform to develop for and the more flexible ram makes it easy to do what was done on the PS3 on the XBOX 360 (sandbox games with huge levels could be a limit but I don't think so if procedural generation is used). So it seems to me more likely than not that this goes multiplatform.

[gamesblow]

I'm a huge Supporter of Sony and the more games they have the better... but I don't want Mass Effect on the ps3. I don't want Halo on Ps3... I don't want Gears of War on ps3. Those are xbox Staples. Why should we make every console have the same content? We shouldn't. We need diversity and reason to buy these systems over the other. With Mass Effect going to Ps3, it'd be a lost venture. I want new IP for my PS3. I want to see continued support for franchises on their respected console and target audience. Not every damn game needs to be multiplatform, people. Get of it!

[switch-it]

Couldnt agree more

[The_Engineer]

When it releases I will buy it for 360, if it runs poorly then I hope they bring it to PS3 and do a better job as this looks like it should be a great game.

I'll buy both Uncharted and ME on release day SO I WIN, while fanboys blinded by silly console jealousy will be here bickering instead of gaming.

[jcgamer]

wow, excellent post...I love how every console has its own special flavor this generation...bubbles up...this is EA though, so it isn't a crazy question...but 360 owners will be the ones who make ME a success, no doubt about it...day 1 purchase for JCgamer...you guys support Uncharted...game on...

[DARK WITNESS]

i everygame ended up cross platform, then it only enforces the idea that we should just have one gaming platform. i bought my 360 for games like halo and mass effect. I bought my ps3 for games like MGS4 and FFXiii. The more games keep going cross, the less reason i have for owning both.

[fishd]

I hope so as a ps3fanboy(yeah fanboy,so what?)you know we are talking about EA.there may be a ps3 version a wii version mobile version psp ds and every platform on this planet.you think not so think again.but at other side we have M$ and they know how keep their exclusive,exclusive so it is really complex but at the end i just hope so caz it will be a great game.

[TheMART]

Will Microsoft buy EA to keep Mass Effect Trilogie on the 360, secure all those sport games exclusive on the 360 and more???

It's all possible... Speculation, speculation

[rofldings]

Can anyone really afford EA?

[Bnet343]

who throws money around better then Micro$oft? They can do it, I think the thing is EA is way to big.

[UltramanJ]

This is EA we're talking about, not some company on the verge of bankruptcy *cough* 2K games *cough*. M$ doesn't have a big enough money hat to keep one of the worlds largest publishers from throwing this on all systems and making a boatload of money in sales.
M$ should have bought some of these companies (Bizarre, Bioware) when they could, and now that they're gone M$ is going to be hurting for exclusive games in the future. Mark my words.

@#4- This is the way the industry is headed. It's the first party games that will sperate one console from another, and seeing how Sony owns a very large number of established studios, I'd say their future is brighter than M$s'.

[The_Engineer]

nobody can compete with Sony's first party stable, it's just too deep.

[fishd]

sorry sir but if M$ wanted to buy somthing, it didn't lose bioware,bungie,bizzare

[Firewire]

Personally I don't care. Let it stay on the 360, with Uncharted coming up & the PS3's '08 line up, PS3 owners don't need this game.

[mesh1]

ALL i can say IS DREAM BEYOND never happing. ppl always have to remember Microsoft is more powerful than E.A buy a large margin and have struck a deal with Bioware regardless of what e.a has to say contracts for 3 games for the 360 have been signed not to mention Microsoft influence in the business world + ex Microsoft employee becoming the head of E.A DREAM BEYOND.

[The_Engineer]

any contracts signed were between MS and Bio, EA was not a party to it so MS would have to renegotiate a contract.

[ip-student]

Depends on the contract - some contracts bind the successors in interest.

My biggest complaint is that EA now owns the studio that created Mass Effect - EA has the worst management in the industry, constantly overworks its employees and screws up almost every single thing it touches. As a rule, I just don't buy EA games. Mass Effect is an exception because the game is done but future versions - I serious doubt I will ever buy them.

[kingboy]

EA =Multi platforms all the way,heck even consider a psp/Ds port down the road lol

[lawman1108]

“We have no plans currently to pursue that. Our focus is pure and simple; it’s to deliver the best game possible for our fans with Mass Effect, and that’s an Xbox 360 exclusive. Microsoft’s a great partner… and they’ve really helped build the value of the product and we’re proud to work with them.”

[AllroundGamer]

hope not, it's probably just another overhyped game like Halo3... btw my xbox died on Tuesday - RROD, so i'm a little depressed right now :( but hopefully it will be fixed quickly so i can try Mass Effect and see for myself, if it is only another pure MS hype...

[lawman1108]

You mean the same game that has sold over 4 MILLION copys in just 5 weeks? The game you have NEVER played? Is that the game you mean? The only game that is close is Wii sports and thats because it's a pack in. Overhyped, if the game stunk people would not have bought it and it would not have gotten 9's and 10's Give credit where credit is due, I own a PS3 but I like the 360 better however I enjoy Fall of man and Warhawk. If you can afford it buy each system and just enjoy what they have to offer.

[allforcalisto]

the only thing keeping MAss effect 1 from going multiplat is the fact that microsoft is purpotedly publishing the game. I reckon EA will buy it off of microsoft as soon as poss, to get ps3 gamers on to the franchise in preparation for the sequels which aren't being published by MS.

the writer of article establishes the point that has been reiterated every now and then since news of the buyout was released: EA have been multiplat forever. Making exclusive titles isn't compatible with their business model.

EA stands to earn more money from doing this. I don't see MS resisting, what'd be the point?

[fjtorres]

...who pine for what they can't have. ;-)
There is no better goal in life (according to some).
You need to understand, childrem is that MS is playing a game with Sony, here: its called "what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable." :-D

[The_Engineer]

torres but the word in the industry is that MS is shedding as much weight as it can to keep it's games division alive. Not looking to good at the moment.

[fjtorres]

...maybe a bit too much; check the smiley. :-)
The point was that some people are too easy to tease...
...and take their gaming too seriously.
Its supposed to be just for fun.

BTW, you a train fan or an AUTHORITY fan?

[Snukadaman]

losing money huh..well here are some things on the internet i found...by the way..you could of found it also before typing that tripe...

http://techiqmag.com/2007/0...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

does anyone realize that MS is publishing the first game? and even with EA buying bioware they cant break that contract?

[JokesOnYou]

hey isn't this the same site that said that they got a confirmation over dinner that Bioshock would be on the ps3, then later Bio dev said it wasn't happening. oh and if I recall isnt this the same site accused of faking a interview with Valve, which they ultimately pulled the interview. yeah, this *Pro sony* site is questionable at best, I guess this is a possibility though but they put out this theory as if they have some NEW INFO??? NO!, from what I read they don't know anymore than the next guy and thus this is more speculation until the parties involved say something concrete, but I do know one thing for sure ME will be out on the 360 in just a couple of weeks+ and I'll be picking it up launch day, while sonykids do what they do best, WAIT, HOPE, & PRAY for good news and then WAIT some more=

JOY

[gololo]

nah...i guess ps3 owners will have nothing to do...uh wait uncharted!

[Jandre02]

No no. While MSFT has alot of money, they arent going to spend that much on gaming. If that really was the case, they would just drop the price of the Xbox360 to $150 and end this already.

The question is going to come down to "why not". By the time Mass Effect 2 comes out, the PS3's install base will be larger than the Xbox360's is currently. So, why not throw Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 on one blu-ray and make more money?

Because of loyalty to the Xbox360? Sure they could TRY to pay off EA, but the only way that would work out is if they can be sure they are receiving more money than the PS3 would make selling the game otherwise.

Putting it on the PS3 would get the game into Japan, however. Unless MSFT is willing to spend HUGE amounts of money, this is going multiplatform. The port will suck. Mass Effect 2 may be developed for PS3 first ONLY because ports to the PS3 are always bad. They would be released simultaneously though. Maybe MSFT could even pay for a timed exclusive.

[mesh1]

ask this to ur self why is ut3 comign out on the ps3 with so low install base ?why is haze coming out on the ps3 1st ? the anser is $$$ + they have contracs they cant break bioware has STATED all mass effects will be on the 360 and also ive enver seen a TRILOGY published by micro sfot games studio and the nxt part is published by some 1 else.

[0LDSCH00L]

Not including assets! if they want to buy the whole trilogy from EA, believe me.. they have more than enough money! so UltramanJ your an idiot! and so is anyone else that thinks MS isnt capable, besides even if it did go multi-plat you wouldnt see it on your inferior PS3 for at least 3 years! honestly.. I believe that there wont even be a PS3 by then anyway, as far as gaming is concerned the PS3 is nothing but a big scam and fraud!!!

[picker332]

I don't even care if Mass Effect coming to ps3 beacouse it's look's like sh!t and boring in my opinion.

[pornflakes]

MS lost Bizarre, Bioware and bungie. They made enough money with them and got enough succsess with them.

The next parts of these titles will also be a succsess dont care if it will be multi.
But what if MS will spent their "next" money for FF13?

[The Chief of Mjolnir]

Wrong. Bungie will still make games for MS.

They said it in their podcast.

[allforcalisto]

Dude Microsoft have more than "30 billion" in the bank, but economically companies don't like taking losses. Now if MS went out and bought the rest of the series, they'd need to probably pay some serious $$$ to EA.

Why do you think kotaku and other sites were deliberating the future of Mass effect. In your fanboy rambling you're not looking at the picture. EA likes money, EA makes money off of mulitplats which reach big audiences. EA have bought Bioware for their talent, and to show gamers they're not just about movie franchises, and sports games.

Do you seriously think MS is willing to pay more than the combined sum all the ps3 users who would buy ME2 and ME3 would fork out for those games?

right now i reckon if MS doesn't sell the publishing rights of ME1, then EA will get some team to create some kind of foreword to the ps3 version of ME2

[Contra26]

when there is MASS EFFECT!!!!

oh and by the way...

R&C is not an AAA title
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

[The_Engineer]

anyone that has seen gameplay videos of Uncharted will tell you that it blows away even the mighty Gears. And i think Gears is great.

[JCITY]

i sense a ps3 takover....i mean when it happens...this game will go to ps3..but honestly sci fic games dont interest me ...si i'm good without it...the graphics will probaly look better on ps3 anyways....flame war !!

[sectionz]

I personally got an xbox 360 for mass effect. it would be good to see everyone get it.

[Meus Renaissance]

The game appeals to alot of people and it'll probably get the standard 10 out of 10 nowdays, but am I the only one who isn't interested by this?

[ShiftyLookingCow]

"am I the only one who isn't interested by this?" is that even a honest question? just read the comments if you were actually serious instead of taking a dig

[Meus Renaissance]

Why do you perceive my comment as "taking a dig"?

I didn't read the other comments, I just posted my point of view. I don't doubt the game will be a massive hit but personally it doesn't seem to do much for me. I've watched videos of it, trailers, and it just doesn't do it for me. I really dislike the look of the attack system, it's too complicated and slows down the pace of the game from what I have seen.

Why would I take a dig? If I wanted, I'd get it. It's just I'm not interested in the game being ported to my platform of choice.

[Leg-End]

but thats just me i'n not being a fangirl - i have never liked rpgs, not even finalfantasy

[allforcalisto]

the big difference between ME and Uncharted which makes ME look better, is ME's scale. exploring space vs exploring jungle = space instant win

however

uncharted has better animations, better lighting, a lot enjoyable-looking gameplay and faaaaaaar better voice acting

ME ultimately is the thicker game with all the different narrative pathways, but because of the lack lustre gameplay and tedious dialogue i reckon i'd just get bored. I dunno who designed the characters but am i the only one in thinking that Kotor 1's cast were a lot more varied in persona's, the npc's more diverse and interesting? then there's all the different environments there were in Kotor...

[Chemical]

in Mass Effect.

- there is create a character? better than Oblivion?
- Very Long Game
- More Weapons and Types of Class you can be
- Lack Luster Gameplay? it's cover system like Uncharted + you can switch to any of your team mates
- you can command teammates as well
- and the whole dialogue thing. You can make your own dialogue in ME. on uncharted you'll just be seeing a pretty boy making awkward face reactions. Who moves their eye brows when talking in a calm voice?

[ip-student]

Chemical - when did you get a chance to play ME?

[Real gamer 4 life]

However, PS3 owners should remember that BioWare confirmed to us earlier this year at GDC that they were working on a sci-fi title for Sony’s next-generation console, though it has yet to be officially unveiled.

Needless to say, stay tuned for more developments as soon as they bre

[Real gamer 4 life]

mass effec gameplay mechanic are exactly like graw2. I am not really interested in mass effect.

[0LDSCH00L]

Dude.. your missing the whole point!!! you wont see an ME PS3 version for at least 3 years anyway!!! and by that time the glory days of Sony and the PS3 will be just a memory!!! the PS3 as a gaming machine is a fraud! more and more creditable devs are pointing this out! every time Sony drops thier price on the PS3 the whole real picture becomes clearer.. its the begining of the end!!! dont believe me, look at the Atari jaguar, Colecovision, Intelevision and Sega Dreamcast they all began to make thier exit the same way!!

[eagle21]

BUT GTA is multi day one now. There are forums on amazon where people are asking, "will gta iv work on ps2?, "is this still PS3 exclusive," "their probably gonna port this to xbox in a year". These are Nov. 2007 forums guys, it is hilarious but true. Anything can happen these days.

[kss]

yes, you make a good point publishers dont have loyalty to consoles only to money

[kss]

the rest of mass effects sequels will be on the ps3 and i wouldnt be surprised if they turn out to be exclusives

[TheXgamerLive]

Mass Effect on the ps3 is not one of them.

[PS360PCROCKS]

It's not going to the PS3, sorry.