MS quiet on Mass Effect date

By Robert Purchese Published 30 March, 2007

Rumoured for June.

Microsoft has stayed close-mouthed over recent outbursts that Mass Effect will launch in Europe on 22nd June, telling Eurogamer this afternoon that it has nothing to announce.

Italian website Spazio Games initially ran with the news, confirming the European date alongside a 5th June American release, though no source was named. Since then other sites have come out into the open, claiming the game had been confirmed for those dates.

It supports comments made by BioWare bigwig Ray Muzyka at this year's Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, who revealed to IGN that the game wouldn't be at this year's E3 in July- obviously meaning only one thing.

No release date for the Xbox 360 game has yet been announced, but there's been plenty of recent Mass Effect related news that suggests we may see the game sooner rather than later. Two prequel novels from game writer Drew Karpyshyn and an influx of new information on the game's website, for instance.

Recently unveiled was information on the six playable classes in the sci-fi romp from role-playing veteran BioWare. The first three of these to be revealed were a Soldier, who relies on combat to solve situations, an Engineer, who can manipulate enemy technology and heal, and an Adept, who uses upgradeable implants to unleash devastating biotic powers. Also mentioned were a Vanguard, a hybrid of sorts, and a Sentinel.

Head over to the Mass Effect website for more information.

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 5 years ago

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

  • SomaticSense #1 5 years ago

    Another "no news" news article?

    Someones really bored at EG towers aren't they?
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/07 @ 13:34

  • bonker #2 5 years ago

    Be nice to see something of consequence such as some investigative journalism into PS3 sales figures ...

  • SomaticSense #3 5 years ago

    Whats the betting the next article will be:

    No Resident Evil 5 release date for Europe

    Capcom haven't released a date for when the highly anticipated zombie game is due to be released for European gamers. They are still yet to release a date for the US and Japan.
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/07 @ 13:46

  • Steroyd #4 5 years ago

    They don't roll in until... tomorrow isn't it?

    Sales that is.

    Damn you SomaticSense.
    Edited by 1 at 30/03/07 @ 13:46

  • dredd97 #5 5 years ago

    'Be nice to see something of consequence such as some investigative journalism into PS3 sales figures ... '

    why? there's nothing to investigate...

  • SomaticSense #6 5 years ago

    Oh, side note:

    "Italian website Spazio Games initially ran with the news"

    Am I the only one to have read that as Spazmo games?

  • Dizzy #7 5 years ago

    It is close.. YouTube already has "viral" or "sneak" movies.

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=RVIPMuNFn-c

  • _Dave_ #8 5 years ago

    > Am I the only one to have read that as Spazmo games?

    Nope, I read it as that first as well...

  • Keso #9 5 years ago

    I also noticed on the character classes page it states that six classes are avalable, but then later says:

    "In addition, if you play well enough to survive the physical and political dangers of the galaxy, you will gain the ability to unlock six more specialization classes later in the game."

    So thats 12 classes then. Can't wait for this game.

  • Dizzy #10 5 years ago

    >you will gain the ability to unlock six more specialization classes later in the game."

    I have the feeling that will have something to do with the Plot Twist (TM).

  • Rirekon #11 5 years ago

    At least they kept their mouths shut for once

  • NewbieZilla #12 5 years ago

    "It supports comments made by BioWare bigwig Ray Muzyka at this year's Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, who revealed to IGN that the game wouldn't be at this year's E3 in July- obviously meaning only one thing."

    http://ma sseffect.bioware.com/forums/vie...

  • Xerx3s #13 5 years ago

    Bonker: Check VG charts for all the fanboy wank festivities that one can have.

  • Xerx3s #14 5 years ago

    I wonder how the whole semi episodic thing will plot out. I have a feeling that they will make us pay loads for tiny scraps that you need to download if you want to know the full story of the trilogy.

  • NewbieZilla #15 5 years ago

    "I wonder how the whole semi episodic thing will plot out. I have a feeling that they will make us pay loads for tiny scraps that you need to download if you want to know the full story of the trilogy."

    This is Bioware, and while i'm not a PC gamer, I know the people who are die hard PC gamers and love Bio's games trust them not to do something like that.

    Microsoft, on the other hand seem to want to charge for it. I read somewhere in an interview with Ray, I think that Microsoft loves the direction they are going with DLC.

    Edit: I don't really think its episodic content. They will be releasing full games. They might unlock planets, perhaps with side quests. But the main story, I believe will be released in full game packages.

    Edit #2: " Is there going to be episodic content delivered by the Xbox Live?

    Jarrett Lee:
    One important thing I should clarify: fans who miss some of this episodic installments for any particular reason will not be negatively impacted in their

    Jarrett Lee:
    Bear in mind, exact details about how episodic content will be developed and delivered have certainly not been finalized."

    From: http://mef aq.sendu.me.uk/FAQ/Miscellaneous
    Edited by 2 at 30/03/07 @ 14:57

  • bonker #16 5 years ago

    "Bonker: Check VG charts for all the fanboy wank festivities that one can have. "

    Er, thanks(!) lol

  • NthSimulachum #17 5 years ago

    Now on Eurogamer, we report on non-news, then link our readers to the second part of that non news on a site needing more ad revenue.

  • sharky_ob #18 5 years ago

    Spazio - *snigger*

  • Vin #19 5 years ago

    Hot shit.

  • NewbieZilla #20 5 years ago

    Is this pitiful display really the level of interest news on Mass Effect elicits? Or is it that this is faux news?

  • brooza #21 5 years ago

    It supports comments made by BioWare bigwig Ray Muzyka at this year's Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, who revealed to IGN that the game wouldn't be at this year's E3 in July- obviously meaning only one thing.

    The game's been cancelled?

  • Xerx3s #22 5 years ago

    The game will be out before the e3. Duh. ¬_¬

    Do you really think that a publisher like ms will let stuff like this just evaporate?

  • cyacomini #23 5 years ago

    Out in May according to Xbox.com - see here.

    [link url=http://www.xbox360 wire.co.uk/2007/02/02/microsoft-announce-street-date-for-mas s-effect-or-not/
    ]http://ww w.xbox360wire.co.uk/2007/02/02/...[/link]

    Article is from way back on 2nd Feb, and has a screengrab of said 'announcement'.

  • NewbieZilla #24 5 years ago

    Yeah, and the guy i'm about to link says MS announced June 5th.

    I don't believe Microsoft or Bioware have announced anything.

    Edit: [link url=http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/03/mass_effect_rel.html
    ]http://bl og.wired.com/games/2007/03/mass...[/link]

    Forgot link. Yep, i'm a dunce.
    Edited by 1 at 31/03/07 @ 22:15

  • mike_mgoblue #25 5 years ago

    Mass Effect is the Next-BIG-Thing in gaming!!!

    Mass Effect got all of those awards at the E3 in 2006, just like Gears of War and Bioshock did.

    Mass Effect is going to be a HUGE game, because it is SO AWESOME and people are looking forward to it SO MUCH!!!

    Just look at how many magazine covers Mass Effect has already been on in the last year!

    People are looking forward to Mass Effect, BIGTIME!!!

    The graphics are the best ever seen on a game console with Mass Effect, but what is even more exciting is the way the gameplay is so revolutionary with Mass Effect.

    The Emergence Day of Mass Effect will be just as Big as Gears of War and Halo 2.
    Edited by 1 at 01/04/07 @ 08:44

  • NewbieZilla #26 5 years ago

    "The Emergence Day of Mass Effect will be just as Big as Gears of War and Halo 2."

    I really don't think MS will advertise it as such. Look at Oblivion. I think MS will equate both on the same line. Now, I regularly hate bringing Oblviion up in these conversations, because I feel Mass Effect will be far better.

    My reason for the comparison here is a third party dev (bioware here, bethesda there) have got fans last generation (Morrowind for xbox, JE and KOTOR from Bio) so now, Oblivion and Mass Effect, well, they'll go up on the xbox.com sites but I don't reckon i'll see as much on ME as I did on Gears.

  • azwipe #27 5 years ago

    PC? Please?♠