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Mass Effect confirmed for PC

Polished up for keyboard audience.

Electronic Arts has ended speculation by confirming that it will release science-fiction role-playing game Mass Effect on PC.

It aims to be available across the USA in May, and will come with brushed-up controls to suit a keyboard.

This means you can assign your skills and abilities to hot-keys so you have less need to bring up the menu and pause combat. You can also re-map the controls as you see fit, enjoy a new user interface and inventory system, as well as high resolution visuals - although we're not sure if this means "higher than on Xbox 360".

There's also a new decryption mini-game to replace for the 360 controller button-matching original.

While EA is revealed as the publisher of this version, it appears Microsoft will be doing the honours in the future - suggesting it will remain exclusive to the Xbox 360 console.

"EA has struck an agreement with Microsoft to handle future publishing for Mass Effect," said EA Games boss Frank Gibeau. "We are looking forward to releasing Mass Effect on the PC this Spring and brand new titles in the future."

Mass Effect is the latest epic story from role-playing veterans BioWare. It follows the story of Commander Shepard, who finds himself at the heart of a humanity-saving science fiction quest.

We picked it as our eighth favourite game of 2007 (although personally I would have put it higher moan grumble), while you lot decided it was your fifth favourite of the year.

Head over to our Mass Effect review to find out more.