Mass Effect 2 'soon but not real soon'

Matt Atwood chats to GameSpot about that lesbian love scene, the controversy surrounding the first game, and the sequels.

BioWare's epic science-fiction role-playing game Mass Effect was released in November exclusively on the Xbox 360 and has since spawned a novel, its first downloadable content over Xbox Live, and a PC version.

The game sees protagonist Commander Shepard battling across the universe to stop a rogue spectre called Saren and ultimately save the universe from the invasion of an evil machine race called the Reapers.

The game was briefly banned in Singapore and caused something of a furore due to the inclusion of the possibility of playing as a female character and having a relationship with a mono-gendered alien (who looks very much like a female).

BioWare's senior manager Matt Atwood says that this is a little unfair. He told GameSpot, "The interesting thing about Liara [the mono-gendered blue alien in question] is that in her species what they do is they join their minds and their minds become one." He said that he thought that the scenes were "really tastefully handled."

Atwood added that the team had been upset by some of the stories and controversy surrounding the game, especially in the mainstream press. He said, "I think the team was very hurt because some of the people who were talking about it hadn't played it. We believe in integrity and not gratuity, and Mass Effect doesn't have gratuity at all."

When asked about limitations in the first game and what kind of stuff BioWare had wanted to put in the game but had not managed to include, Atwood said coyly, "I'm not going to tell you what those things are because we've already announced that Mass Effect is a trilogy, and I imagine you'll be seeing those things in two and three."

Unsurprisingly, he was short on details about what would be in the second game, but he did say that he thought it was looking awesome so far. He said, "I've been able to get some of the info, and hearing some of the ideas, you feel like you're working with rocket scientists every day. People are really going to love it."

As to the question everyone's asking--when can we expect Mass Effect 2?--Atwood ponders, "Well, the first one took three and a half years, but because we've got a lot of the tools and a base level now, it's not going to take that long. I'd say soon, but not real soon."

He added that there were also plans for a sequel to the book Mass Effect: Revelation, which was released in May 2007.

To see the rest of the interview with Matt Atwood, check out GameSpot UK's Start/Select show, online from this Thursday, March 20.

234 Comments

  • wii--x360

    Posted Jan 25, 2009 2:07 pm PT

    Pleases EA don't ruin another franchise! I loved mass effect best game i ever played. EA = Destroyer of good games

  • Liso66

    Posted Dec 18, 2008 10:23 am PT

    EA won't ruin ME. With the sale of Bioware. Part of the agreement is creative freedom. They are not allowed to interfere with production, creativity, or time constraints. Bioware may be owned by EA now. However they are still running like an independent company. I assume EA knew not to fix what is not broken. Reap the rewards, rather than ruin a good thing.

  • Kojo62

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 9:46 am PT

    ME1 was one of the most amazing games I ever played, and I have high hopes now for the entire trilogy. God, I cannot WAIT for this game ... just can't wait.

  • fred3324

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 6:17 am PT

    I loved the game really fun story with exciting twists and turns.
    I do think they could perhaps do a bit more with the combat and the side quests.
    I'm surprised no one mentioned the combat being repetitive and at times rather clunky and imbalanced.
    I just slugged through the mako/combat bits because i wanted to next part of the story to enfold it never felt like the parts i really wanted to play or were excited about playing.

  • HaloSheepies

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 12:50 pm PT

    Im sorry to admit it, but i agree with greenspeed. Now that EA has bought BioWare, Mass Effect 2 and any other games they make will probable be unimaginally crappy. Another gaming loss.

  • greenspeed

    Posted Sep 11, 2008 10:24 am PT

    EA will ruin it just like the ruin every other game it upsets me for example C&C has been ruined by EA you know theve been using the same engine for a decade EA are just running them trhough the ground until there franchises dies i want mass effect to be amazing so hopefully they will tell them were to go and let them do what they do best and thats make games

  • IrishMadness

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 5:39 pm PT

    Wow mass effect 1 is really good graphics the gameplay... I am hoocked on it like Phantom phoot say's its a awesome game... some problems on the PC version... but easy to get out off. anyway... ME 2 is going to rock, I just hope more weapones and suits xD

  • PhantomPhoot

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 9:11 pm PT

    Just got the game. I have to say that I'm hooked to it. The galaxy is great and the storyline is simply epic. Yes it does have a few "lovely" scenes in it, but they were very tastefully handled, as they said. The game is simply amazing, and a sequel is definitely in order. Improvements should be gravity and how it effects mako, walking, and biotics. Another improvement should be the ability to create a non-human character. How cool would it be to be a turian or a krogan like Wrex and Garrus? I'd enjoy that. That could open up tons of storyline capabilities.

    Oh, and in response to connor52's comment, lesbian is considered homo as well. Please learn the prefixes before you end up insulting people.

  • Treflis

    Posted Aug 13, 2008 7:19 am PT

    I still remember the Fox News thing where they claimed Mass Effect had "Full frontal nudity", Next time they should actually play the game before they toss out such nonsense.
    As for Mass Effect 2, I just can't wait.
    I love Mass Effect, great story, insanely great voice acting and even if it had some flaws it's considered one of the best games made over the recent years.

  • Kingsta69

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 6:35 am PT

    i just hope they really refine the side quests, they are just too linear and repetitive. I also hope they make each world more unique, its a big let down to have all the worlds so similar. Why not have rare and exotic plants/weather/animals/diseases/anomalies. The main story was awesome although the re-playability of it as the same character wasn't so great. It became far too easy once you have the best weapons/mods. But if they can add what i said above it would be my #1 game.

  • connor52

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    i bet there is gonna be a alien homo scene insted of a lesbian scene

    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • lobo12

    Posted Jul 29, 2008 5:50 am PT

    I guess MS will announce ME 2 at the next E3, I hope they do I just can't wait for ME 2 I really love the first one.

  • dbzshinjlong

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 7:36 pm PT

    i cant wait for the 2nd one or the 3rd one, i heard that they are working on a 3rd ME game as well. so i hope this triliogy goes on for awhile ME is a great game. i also cant wait for KOTOR 3!

  • jcmorgado

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 5:00 pm PT

    Awesome game, it's outstandingly done, briliante story, great graphics...

    I wouldn't give to much importance to some that are saying things based
    on sexual nature, maybe they are frustrated somehow cause the game realy haves nithing bad to talk about...

    A word of encouragement for the creators team, and please do not ear coments like that from people that mostly and very possibly are saying that out of frustration or gelousy!

    Well done guys, hope to see news from the second one in the triology...

  • levinobody

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    great game dont no why everyone having a problem with the sex sciene its perfectly aviodable at the players choice....they dont have to see the part they just wont get the romanic acheviment on xbox live yea...huge thing their...ppl..

  • PieCrusher

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    the sequel is going to be awsome. and porn? u don't see n e thing.

  • secertassasin

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 8:19 am PT

    i remeber some whack news reporter saying that the scene was close too porn. Then they asked if she played it and she said no. I hate journalist. Cant wait for 2.

  • Miteme

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 8:28 am PT

    ME was an amazing game with a compelling story, rivelling MGS, plus it had great character interactions. However it suffered from repetitive side missions and pretty much a lack of anything on planets that weren't integral to the plot. Hopefully ME2 will improve on this and make the game an all round amazing game

  • amerus

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:01 pm PT

    the sex scene was silly, all the fuss about it was waste of time in my opinion, i mean come on.
    a little sex scene they can make a field day about, but blood and body parts flying all over in other games is nothing to say anything about?
    errr...

  • danleeah

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 9:03 pm PT

    Calling it ME is confusing me.

  • andalore

    Posted Jul 9, 2008 3:08 pm PT

    I love the 1st mass effect and cant wait for the sequel, It was amazing in the way that you actually cared for the characters by the end, and about the love scene, by the time you actually have sex, its not just about humping, the characters have been through so much and it seems meaningful (not the blue alien by the start lol, thats just sex)

  • Gedddy_lee

    Posted Jul 2, 2008 10:56 am PT

    From an interview I saw in GI you can port your charecter from ME 1 to 2

  • feartrain999

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 12:09 am PT

    Also to add... About the "Lesbian Love Scene" controversy... It is so true, and it makes me so insanely mad, the sheer ignorance coming from people that have the actual nerve to tell you: ''No I will NOT allow you to play this''. Only because they heard something that seems offensive (In THEIR tastes) through the grapevine. All the while not even being gamers themselves!!! Who are they to say what people should or should not play, when they themselves, have never even played anything past Pac-man or that free pinball game on their Windows desktop! ... Such ignorance... It's insulting. - FEAR

  • feartrain999

    Posted Jun 30, 2008 11:57 pm PT

    Mass Effect was the most awesome blend of Sci-Fi > Action > RPG > 3rd Person Shooter, it did ever aspect so very well...

    And on top of that, the content was legendary. From the character development, the space lore, the backdrop of virtually every species/character, the replay-ability, character customization, etc... I can literally go on for days listing everything!

    I have faith that the developers will be able to top this and satisfy the general fanbase. That is of course, if EA doesn't get money hungry during development and push the release! Lets pray the team will stay true to ME's roots on this sequel.

  • TenP

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    I hope ME2 comes out on PC at the same time as Xbox, I don't want to wait any longer than I have to!

  • datniccah187

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 3:11 pm PT

    The quicker the better ME2 needs to hurry up and come out, before I break my ME1 due to pure overuse!!!

  • pitchblack125

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 9:17 pm PT

    I cant wait for ME2 because ME1 was the best game i have played in a long time and ME2 can only get better.

  • ascalon94

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 7:11 pm PT

    its coming for the PC

  • Raven_Lord

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 11:53 pm PT

    I loved ME, (I'm about to finish my 5th playthrough) but I DO hope that EA will come to their senses and remove the 3 activation limit from ME2 (btw, do you know that even by uninstalling the game, you do not get back your activiation? (See: http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=635474&forum=127 )

  • secondshooter

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 7:07 pm PT

    I'm super-hyped about Mass Effect 2. I just hope EA dosen't ruin it.

  • epormada

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 6:04 pm PT

    I hope and pray that EA's acquisition of Bioware does not screw this game up!!! Please EA... make crap games till your hearts content, just don't touch MASS EFFECT 2!!!

  • Adversary16

    Posted Jun 15, 2008 10:01 am PT

    I'm really looking forward to no. 2 because M.E. is AWESOME!
    P.S. Please make it for the PC too!

  • merp300

    Posted Jun 13, 2008 5:09 am PT

    elkoman, what if you are like me and haven't played the first game?

  • DukeEdwardI

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 2:36 am PT

    ooo, the sequel to the book sounds good. i just finished the other one last week. got me pumped up to play it on PC

  • enisguy

    Posted May 27, 2008 6:17 pm PT

    Mass Effect was such a great game... I can't wait for the next two.

  • bush66

    Posted May 27, 2008 5:42 am PT

    This sounds awesome, I wonder what's staying the same and what's changing from the first Mass Effect. I just hope we don't have to wait too long for this game.

  • Elkoman

    Posted May 23, 2008 10:02 am PT

    I'm hoping that if the sequel picks up from the end of the first game, you can use your same character. Also, the decisions you made in the first game must also be present in the sequel, such as who's dead and who's alive still.

  • HaLoMaStErJT

    Posted May 21, 2008 12:45 am PT

    can't wait for Mass Effect 2 hope its gonna be awesome. the first one was good, the second should have improvements made in the exploration

  • bulletwaster

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 11:02 am PT

    arent they making it so your character at the end of mass effect will be the one at the start of mass effect 2

  • acummuta

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 8:24 am PT

    I would prefer, as well, that Bioware's resources won't be spread all over the place now with trying to make Mass Effect 2 on the PS3 or something. Please Bioware...just keep it on 360 (and the inevitable PC). I own a PS3, but would not buy it on that platform.

  • acummuta

    Posted Apr 27, 2008 8:21 am PT

    This is my favorite game...ever. I love the dialogue. I thought the facial animations were a real breakthrough for gaming. Really makes it in other games look bad any more. I would so love to have the inventory fixed in this game through a patch. I know that we'll probably see this in Mass Effect 2, but still...a patch at all would be nice.

  • monteiro2361

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 3:12 pm PT

    mass effect " bring down the sky" extra mission was awsome please make another

  • Smoolander

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 7:51 am PT

    Best space game since Elite. I would prefer if they increase the size of the game thought to true RPG size. 100+ of gameplay would be better, and some more variety in the building models.

    And please please give the option to cache some things on the hard drive instead of loading all the textures each and every time. Brilliant game, but some strange design decisions.

  • Lamb0fFilth

    Posted Apr 19, 2008 9:43 pm PT

    mess affact willz pwn everyz1 n 3ven teh 1sT 1 pwnz

  • XRockStarDaveX

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:37 am PT

    Bioware is in the the top 3 BEST game developers ever to have worked on games. do i need to tell you about the Baldur's Gate trilogy? Mass Effect is AMAZING in every way. sure the action wasn't to die for but it wasnt made to be a 3ed person game. but just wait for Mass Effect 2 it will blow your mind out of the water.

  • Merlanni

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 9:46 am PT

    Bioware has last a lot of credit the last year due to the fact that they did put console on top priority. I hope that this game will bring them back to the top, but doubt it. It will be a good game but I fear it will be liniear, and short like Jade Empire. call me negative if you must, but I am also not impressed whit the screenshots. They say nothing about gameplay.

  • PwnMaster94

    Posted Apr 12, 2008 10:00 am PT

    Thats awesome. Mass Effect is so good and for it to have a sequel would be great. But I'm betting on it coming out in Mid-2009 or a bit later. No earlier

  • blooddemon274

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 10:13 am PT

    can't wait for me2 . . . i just hope it come out when i'm back in the country with my 360. won't be around for awhile.

    and a sequel to revelation?! best news so far!

    now, when's the next downloadable missions coming?

  • H-A-V-O-K

    Posted Apr 8, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    mid-09 as much as i wish it would be sooner.
    seeing as how mass effect was such a great game they'll take this chance to fix the small issues with the first game and make it even better.
    i wouldnt mind even seeing just an expansion to the first game to tide us over until 2

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