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BioWare announces Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut

UPDATE: no new endings will be added to the game.

UPDATE: BioWare has published its Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut FAQ, and in it confirmed that no new endings will be added to the game.

"BioWare strongly believes in the team's artistic vision for the end of this arc of the Mass Effect franchise," the studio said. "The extended cut DLC will expand on the existing endings, but no further ending DLC is planned."

What it will do is expand on the ending "by creating additional cinematics and epilogue scenes to the existing ending sequences". "The goal of these new scenes is to provide additional clarity and closure to Mass Effect 3," BioWare explained.

ORIGINAL STORY: BioWare has announced the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, a free download for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that addresses the controversial ending of the game.

It provides "additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes" to the ending, and launches this summer.

The Extended Cut is designed to give players "seeking further clarity to the ending of Mass Effect 3 deeper insights into how their personal journey concludes", BioWare said.

BioWare boss Ray Muzyka commented: "We are all incredibly proud of Mass Effect 3 and the work done by Casey Hudson and team.

"Since launch, we have had time to listen to the feedback from our most passionate fans and we are responding. With the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut we think we have struck a good balance in delivering the answers players are looking for while maintaining the team's artistic vision for the end of this story arc in the Mass Effect universe."

Executive producer Casey Hudson added: "We have reprioritized our post-launch development efforts to provide the fans who want more closure with even more context and clarity to the ending of the game, in a way that will feel more personalized for each player."

The Extended Cut DLC is free up to 12th April 2014, when the offer expires.