Mass Effect 2 on PC/360 simultaneously

By Robert Purchese Published 24 August, 2009

No space in between this time.

BioWare has confirmed that Mass Effect 2 will launch simultaneously on PC and Xbox 360 early next year.

The original game took over six months to appear on desktop, although the extra time allowed improvements to be made.

"We learned a lot from building the PC version before, and having built it six months later there was a big difference. So we actually took what we learned from PC and put it back into 360," associate producer Jesse Houston told VG247 at gamescom.

"Fundamentally, we want you to have the same gameplay experience, but just with the difference in controls. This time round, doing it at the same time for a sim-ship, we can control the differences much more smoothly because it’s the same team building it now."

Warp to our Mass Effect 2 gamepages below for gamescom-released videos and screenshots.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • neilka #1 3 years ago

    SimShip sounds fun, when's that out?

  • Darren #2 3 years ago

    Awesome news. Makes a change for a major multiformat release NOT be delayed on the PC. Well done, BioWare! :D

    I completed the game on the 360 ages ago and have nearly completed the PC version ready for the sequel as I plan on buying it for the PC only this time round. The PC version of the original had some nice U.I. tweaks that made it a more enjoyable experience on that platform plus it ran better with far less graphical issues on my setup.

    I hope that support is added for the 360 controller this time round though, just so we PC owners have the option of playing it away from our desks (not that there is anything wrong with the mouse and keyboard support).

  • Sharzam #3 3 years ago

    If PC version is live enabled, then its a no brainer in that case. If its not live enabled then will have to think about it but pc probably still win.

  • muscleblade #4 3 years ago

    @Sharzam

    MS is no longer the publisher. EA is the publisher now so i guess not Live enabled PC version.

  • StooMonster #5 3 years ago

    Hurrah for PC version of ME2 having no wait. The PC version of the original game was superior to Xbox 360 version and I hope the this continues with the new game.

    Mass Effect is available on Steam in US but EA continue to refuse to offer it up in UK on the same platform; I am willing to bet they'll continue with this strategy for the release of Mass Effect 2. Still, prolly get it cheaper on DVD anyway.

  • Dizzy #6 3 years ago

    >EA is the publisher now so i guess not Live enabled PC version.

    ???

    This has nothing to do with the publisher.

  • hiddenranbir #7 3 years ago

    I'm sure it will have achievements, which means will work on GFWL.

    Anyway, already got it on 360 but seems I should pick up the PC version too so I can continue the trilogy on that platform.

    Maybe my 360 LE tin can be worth something later...

  • UncleLou #8 3 years ago

    Great news. Damn glad MS isn't publishing anymore, I can live without them trying to sell me something I don't want.

  • skillian #9 3 years ago

    If PC version is live enabled, then its a no brainer in that case.

    Just curious as I've seen a few people express similar sentiments recently, but as this isn't a multiplayer game, what be missing if it wasn't Live enabled that would make you consider not getting that version?

  • sarcasmoidosis #10 3 years ago

    "what be missing if it wasn't Live enabled that would make you consider not getting that version? "

    Achievements :)

  • matrim83 #11 3 years ago

    ^^Heh, I wouldnt go so far as to discarding the PC version in favour of the 360 one for achievements but I do agree they would be nice to have in the PC version. I havent had a single isue with any GFWL game so personally the more games use it the better.

  • ChaK #12 3 years ago

    I'm always the first to frown at devs when PC version is late.

    So now I can also say : THX !

  • Wolverfrog #13 3 years ago

    Can't wait for ME2, Bioware are amazing.

  • Vertius #14 3 years ago

    A quick look at the boxart will make it clear that there is no GFWL support. It's a standard PC-DVD release, just like the original.

    Nonetheless, PC UI > Achievements. :)

  • mkreku #15 3 years ago

    Good news! I wonder if that means Mass Effect sold well on the PC? I know I got me a copy..

  • Chufty #16 3 years ago

    Yes!! Awesome news. Well done Bioware.

  • Xerx3s #17 3 years ago

    "Nonetheless, PC UI > Achievements. :) "

    I disagree. I generally don't care for achievements but with ME it has been fun to hunt them down as it forced you to try out new ways to play.

  • zedzee #18 3 years ago

    PS3 gets ignored again. That's a familiar story...

  • Vertius #19 3 years ago

    "I disagree. I generally don't care for achievements but with ME it has been fun to hunt them down as it forced you to try out new ways to play."

    Well, if it's like the original PC release, there would be achievements: they just won't be connected to a gamertag. I haven't seen this raised with BioWare, though. I'll ask, if Eurogamer do a LiveText interview with them. *hint hint*

  • UncleLou #20 3 years ago

    There were achievements in the PC version? Can't remember that. Probably shows how much I care for them. ;)

  • TheTingler #21 3 years ago

    Yay, thank you Bioware, you just made my day. You've also made up those brownie points after delaying Dragon Age for so long, including that huge slip for PC but conveniently no slip for console. And I know it's personal, but I'm really annoyed DA isn't coming out October any more. It means I'm going to have to download it, and that'll take ages...

    Oh well, ME2 looks better and is a must-have PC release. ME1 on PC was much easier to control than the 360 version (although I did enjoy it on both).

  • UncleLou #22 3 years ago

    Why do you want it to be superior, can't the both just be equally excellent. In what way would it harm your enjoyment of the PC version if the 360 version was as good.

    I am pretty sure he meant it was a good port that took the PC's strengths into account (UI etc.), and that he hopes that will be the case again, and not that he wants the 360 version to be inferior as such.

  • Ryuken #23 3 years ago

    As it should be.

  • Alterego-X #24 3 years ago

    EA is starting to become too awesome to exist.

  • yagisencho #25 3 years ago

    Huzzah! Now, um...how do I go about porting my 360 saves over to the PC?

  • StooMonster #26 3 years ago

    paddy29: ME1 was superior on PC for three reasons. Firstly, I like running PC version at much higher resolutions than "HD" and still getting super smooth FPS. Secondly, the control system was better on PC and I prefer keyboard+mouse for this type of game. Thirdly, the DLC was free on PC version.

    However, the Xbox 360 version had achievements, was out first, and we don't know what the status is with new DLC ... is it even coming to PC.

    So long as the baseline PC and Xbox 360 performance are the same, then fine, but I would still like to run with better graphics and keyboard+mouse for input.

  • Gaol #27 3 years ago

    ME1 was great on PC. Nice to see 360 games I would otherwise miss released on PC like this. Lionhead take note!