Mass Effect 3 a simultaneous release

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 13 December, 2010

PS3 owners won't have to wait.

All three versions of Mass Effect 3 will launch simultaneously next Christmas, EA has confirmed.

The PlayStation 3 version will launch alongside the PC and Xbox 360 versions, EA told IGN.

The news comes after three years of console exclusivity on Xbox 360.

The first Mass Effect remains an Xbox 360 console exclusive. Mass Effect 2 was released on the Xbox 360 in January. PS3 owners will get it next month.

Mass Effect 3 was formally revealed at the Spike Video Game Awards in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Its teaser video, which you can see below, shows a war torn London ravaged by aliens. An English-accented voice over reveals Earth is under attack. A sniper shoots from inside Big Ben. Male Commander Shepard is seen viewing the destruction from space. Boom.

Mass Effect 3 was confirmed as a PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 release ahead of its reveal by none other than publisher EA – on the EA Store.

The listing included a descriptive blurb that read: "Earth is burning. Striking from beyond known space, a race of terrifying machines have begun their destruction of the human race.

"As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, your only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back the Earth."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (22) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 1 year ago

    That's was well expected, only thing to remain is the question of platform parity, as PS3 may have a slight advantage with one BD?

    Still intent on X360 simply for the game save imports that I ve build up from the start of the series.

  • r4z0rbl4d3 #2 1 year ago

    Great to hear! Need to step up my game in ME2 and finish my second play through (renegade)!

  • Vitor #3 1 year ago

    @GamesConnoisseru - even though things have improved much in terms of console parity in recent years, if the game runs UE3, it'll likely be better (if only marginally so) on 360.

    Still, the whole save importing thing means I'm sticking with my PC copy all the way. That'll likely be the deciding factor for most.

  • Das_Ginge #4 1 year ago

    Im glad that the PS3 peopel get this at the same time as I am putting my bet on this for GOTY next year. Unless its Arkham city. Or Elder Scrolls 5. or...


  • levitate #5 1 year ago

    Jolly good. Pre-order it is then.

    Along with KOTOR and Deus Ex 3.

  • BritishBlue1 #6 1 year ago

    "As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, your only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back the Earth."

    I hope this is overly simplistic marketing speak; I already Saved Teh Earth(tm) in Halo 3 and countless other games. Bioware have been setting this up for two games now so I'm buying Mass Effect 3 to participate in nothing less than a galaxy-wide royal rumble. Anything less doesn't do the series justice.

  • TheTingler #7 1 year ago

    Good news for PS3 owners, but I'll be sticking with the PC version thanks.

    @levitate: I think you mean TOR (The Old Republic). KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic) came out about five years ago.

  • Moribundman #8 1 year ago

    @EG well technically it HAS been dated as November-December 2011 release in the above video posted by you...

  • Zander #9 1 year ago

    Yeah i don't get how someone can go around picking up people to save the Earth that is under attack from aliens that are pretty efficient at wiping out an entire galaxy Think he has time to remember the milk? :-P

  • NeoKenzi #10 1 year ago

    Can't wait for this... I also need to complete my second playthrough first... Now the only problem is do I get it for 360 or PS3?

  • GamesConnoisseur #11 1 year ago

    Vitor

    Perhaps that is normally the case with UE3 in majority of the games, but as EA and BioWare had reported that the ME2 port for PS3 WILL be equal but in some case BETTER than the X360 game.

    That is not so shocking when you think about all the extra time in porting over, as in previous cases where PS3 get a ported game a while after, its can be better.

    We ll just wait and see regarding the same day release, if its as damn close (aside from superior PC version of course) or whatever.

    Perhaps we are just quibbling over minor details when the FACT is the great game WILL be deservingly available to ANY gamers who wants to FINISH the arc and see what happens at the end!

  • Whitster #12 1 year ago

    I really do hope this attack happens towards the end of the game, like the citidal attack in ME:1. Otherwise the urgency of the story will be ruined as you run off to find help, only to find yourself running items or infomation back and forth in an alien nightclub or something?

  • Kerome #13 1 year ago

    As expected. But I hope they manage a decent balance of RPG and shooter elements, for me ME2 went a bit too far shooter-wise. The game becomes a lot less interesting that way, although I'll probably still pick it up for the story.

  • Dr.Frappers #14 1 year ago

    I've been playing ME for 3 years now on the 360 - my all time favourite game series ever. It really is a bit special what with the story, presentation, humour, save imports etc.
    I think it's a real shame that PS3 owners won't ever be able to play ME1 and import their save to ME2 - not in the sense that 360 and PC owners have done. I guess that's publishing rights for you.
    I can't see how an interactive comic to make choices to affect ME2 is going to work. But hey, it's Bioware and i'm sure they'll surprise everyone with what they come out with - personally i hope it's a big success on the PS3 as it has been for the other platforms.

  • Stuz359 #15 1 year ago

    It's obviously good news for PS3 owners, not so sure it will be good for Mass Effect fans. I can see all kinds of horrible things like platform exclusive DLC annoying the hell out of fans.

    Still, can't wait, easily my favourite game series this gen.

  • thedgam #16 1 year ago

    ALL THESE GAMES ON 2011...
    ME WALLET IS GONNA DIE A PAINFUL DEATH...

  • RexRunti #17 1 year ago

    As I played ME1 and ME2 on the 360 I'll be getting ME3 (my most anticipated game ever since I completed ME2 for the first time) on the 360 even if the PS3 version somehow happens to be twice as good.

  • Farzlepot #18 1 year ago

    I think I just messed my pants.

  • MattEdWithCheese #19 1 year ago

    only thing i don't like about mass effect is the halo similarities. Y'no the ancient race, revered by dudes hellbent on mankind's destruction and the superweapons left behind by the ancients. Also didn't like that in the first game sheperd asks are you harvesting humans and they say no, when they are. hopefully they will put the RPG back in it

  • RodHull #20 1 year ago

    Like most folks it would seem I'll stick with the 360 version purely for game save continuity. Be interesting to see DF's tech analysis betwixt the platforms.

  • Farzlepot #21 1 year ago

    @MattEdWithCheese

    Yes, because HALO was the first and only story to make use of those classic and heavily-used sci-fi cliches.

  • The_Inquisitor #22 1 year ago

    Why is the London Eye still standing... kick it down big alien robot!