EA/Origin Access Members Get 10-Hour Mass Effect: Andromeda Trial On March 16

If keeping tabs on your excitement for Mass Effect: Andromeda has become a struggle of epic proportions in recent months, you’ll be glad to hear that a free trial is all set to be available a week ahead of the RPG’s full release, EA has confirmed.

From March 16, all EA and Origin access members will be able to experience the first 10 hours of protagonist Sara (or Scott) Ryder’s exploration of the Milky Way’s neighbour and face the threats that lie beneath the surface of its many planets, satellites and space stations.

While BioWare is keeping specific story details under wraps, we do know that players will be exploring the new frontier aboard The Tempest in an effort to find new planets for the human race to colonize. As is usually the case, all progress made during the trial will carry over to the full game, should you choose to buy it, so there’s no need to hold back on progressing in fear of having to retread your steps on release day.

All of your progress during ME:A Play First Trial will carry over when the game launches.

— Mass Effect (@masseffect) January 21, 2017

Sadly with EA Access still not available on PlayStation 4, you’ll have to own either an Xbox One or PC to take full advantage of the trial, although the upcoming multiplayer beta will hopefully accommodate all platforms, assuming it’s still going ahead. BioWare says the sci-fi sequel’s online counterpart will have a bearing on the story that unfolds in single-player, but that it will be entirely optional.

Mass Effect: Andromeda will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on March 21 in North America and two days later in Europe. If you’ve yet to do so, you might want to secure your pre-order while you still can. Multiplayer experience boosters, exclusive armor sets and vehicle skins are all up for grabs, depending on which edition you opt to go for. See here for all the details.