Mass Effect: Andromeda gets a release date

Game developer BioWare has just revealed the release date for “Mass Effect: Andromeda,” and it’s coming a lot sooner than expected!

The latest installment in the venerated “Mass Effect” series is seeing a North American launch this March 21. In Europe, the game will be released on March 23. The game will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

The announcement was made in the official “Mass Effect: Andromeda” website through a blog post by Aaryn Flynn, the General Manager of BioWare.

Flynn expressed his pride in the game: “Mass Effect: Andromeda is our most ambitious Mass Effect game to date. We’re telling completely new stories, creating new characters, new planets, new species, and introducing new gameplay systems.”

He also elaborated on the reasons for its delay: “… for the first time, we’re bringing Mass Effect to the Frostbite game engine, an incredible engine that’s delivering a tremendous graphical jump from the trilogy to Mass Effect: Andromeda. To deliver on this, we’re taking all the time we can to make sure you’re getting the best possible experience.”

Flynn went on to explain that during the holidays, BioWare developers took home a “holiday build” of the game.

“This is a longstanding studio tradition that goes back to the early days of the original Mass Effect,” he said. “Many load up a PC or console and go home to play as much as possible at their leisure.”

The feedback from those who played the holiday version of the game was positive, which allowed BioWare to set the launch date.

“Getting the endorsement from members of our studio, many of whom played key roles on the original trilogy, was definitely a key factor in helping us lock in on the date,” he stated.

Flynn went on to thank the community for their continued support and enthusiasm for the series and “Mass Effect: Andromeda.”

BioWare will be sharing more “Mass Effect: Andromeda” details at Nvidia’s CES 2017 keynote.

Prior to CES, you can enjoy some screenshots over at Game Informer. — TJD, GMA News