Mass Effect 3 Co-Op Confirmed

There have been a lot of rumors swirling about Mass Effect 3 having some kind of multiplayer. First there was a leak in a South African ad, in a UK magazine, and another Australian magazine. Today, BioWare officially confirmed that co-op is coming to Mass Effect 3, and skeptics have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Speaking on BioWare‘s official forum, Chris Priestly gave a few choice details about the long rumored mode for the next edition of the epic space adventure:

Today BioWare and the Mass Effect 3 team are very pleased to announce 4 player co-op multiplayer missions and the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system for Mass Effect 3 on the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

4 player co-op multiplayer

Join your friends in the all-out galactic war to take Earth back. The universe of Mass Effect expands with the addition of new co-op multiplayer missions, playable over Xbox Live, PSN and PC internet. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control. Success in multi-player will have a direct impact on the outcome of the single player campaign, giving players an alternative method of achieving ultimate victory against the greatest threat mankind – and the entire galaxy – has ever faced.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War

As a bonus to the campaign, BioWare is introducing the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts, including a new 4-player co-op mode. The key to saving the galaxy is the “Galactic Readiness” level, measured by Commander Shepard’s ability to apply
every possible asset – people, weapons, resources, armies, fleets – in the final battle against the Reapers. Players can impact their game’s Galactic Readiness level in multiple ways via the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, including multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced in the coming months. It is important to note that the system is entirely optional and just another way players can have control over your game experience – it is still possible to achieve the optimal, complete ending of the game in Mass Effect 3 through single-player alone.

The post goes on to answer some questions that may be plaguing the minds of worried gamers, like if the full game can still be enjoyed without partaking in the co-op. It’s reiterated several times that the game can still be played in its entirety, including getting the complete ending, entirely in single-player. The multiplayer aspect just provides an alternative way to succeed in certain ways.

What really caught my eye was this one:

Which characters can I play in co-op multiplayer? Can I play as Commander Shepard?

• Commander Shepard’s part in the war will take place in the single-player campaign, as will that of other beloved characters in the franchise such as Garrus, Ashley, and Liara…these characters do not appear in the multiplayer missions. In multiplayer, players will create custom characters to fight on different and unique fronts in the war. This will include the ability to play as favorites like Turians, Krogans, Asari and more… each with their own unique set of abilities.

This means if you’ve ever wanted to make your very own Mass Effect E.T., you finally can for the co-op campaign.

What say you, gamers? Concerns? I think this is a great addition. Mass Effect really is sort of set up perfectly for a co-op portion, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.