Mass Effect goes critical Nov. 20

At Microsoft's press conference during this year's E3 Media & Business Summit, the megapublisher gave several of its most anticipated Xbox 360 exclusives vague holiday release windows. A week ago, Microsoft pegged the release date of one, Project Gotham Racing 4, as being October 2. Today, Microsoft nailed down the date of another, BioWare's sci-fi role-playing game Mass Effect, which will arrive on November 20.

BioWare's intergalactic space odyssey has been the recipient of numerous awards, including two consecutive E3 Game Critics Awards for Best Role-Playing Game and Best Console Game. The reportedly 40-hour-long space epic from the studio behind the well-received Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic drops players in the midst of a newly interstellar human society attempting to establish itself on the intergalactic scene.

Mass Effect is rated M for Mature in the US and will retail for $59.99. In the UK it will have an estimated retail price of £44.99 and expected to be rated 18. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.