When is the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition release date? After years worth of rumours and wishful thinking, BioWare finally confirmed that it’s remastering the original Mass Effect trilogy back in November. The studio announced that the trilogy remaster would launch in spring 2021, and we don’t have much longer to wait.

During a recent preview event, BioWare broke down everything we should expect from the new release. In short, this is very much a remaster rather than a remake – the biggest changes are visual, and all the levels, characters, and story sequences will be just as you remember them, though maybe a little shinier.

But while the basics are all the same, there’s also some notable new stuff to be aware of, especially when it comes to the first Mass Effect. You can expect a load of changes to make ME1 more palatable to modern audiences, as well as improvements to the character creator which will apply across the entire trilogy. So here’s what to expect from the Legendary Edition.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition release date is May 14, 2020 for PC via both Steam and Origin. It’ll also be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and will be compatible with the next-generation consoles, as well.

BioWare says there will be no story changes in Legendary Edition. So if you were hoping for a more substantial revamp of the Mass Effect 3 ending, or to see some of those cut same-sex romances return to the game, it looks like you shouldn’t get your hopes up. The story will be just the same as you remember it, though things like DLC will be included from the start.

Legendary Edition will not include Mass Effect 3’s (surprisingly good) co-op multiplayer mode. BioWare says that bringing multiplayer back – including modern features which are now expected, like cross-play – would be as much effort as the entire Mass Effect 1 remaster, and so the studio chose to focus on the core trilogy and single-player experience.

The package includes the DLC originally released for the trilogy, so you’ve no longer got to worry about missing out on essential party members or pieces of story content. Mass Effect 3 will have its revamped ending, which was originally provided as free DLC, included from the start, as well.

  • ME1: Bring Down the Sky
  • ME2: Genesis
  • ME2: Zaeed – The Price of Revenge
  • ME2: Kasumi – Stolen Memory
  • ME2: Lair of the Shadow Broker
  • ME2: Firewalker Pack
  • ME2: Overlord
  • ME2: Normandy Crash Site
  • ME2: Arrival
  • ME3: Genesis 2
  • ME3: From Ashes
  • ME3: Extended Cut
  • ME3: Leviathan
  • ME3: Omega
  • ME3: Citadel

Promotional content

  • ME2: Recon Operations Pack
  • ME2: Collectors’ Weapon and Armor
  • ME2: Terminus Weapon and Armor
  • ME2: M-29 Incisor
  • ME2: Blood Dragon Armor
  • ME2: Inferno Armor
  • ME2: Recon Hood
  • ME2: Sentry Interface
  • ME2: Umbra Visor
  • ME3: N7 Warfare Gear
  • ME3: AT-12 Raider
  • ME3: Chakram Launcher
  • ME3: M-55 Argus
  • ME3: M-90 Indra
  • ME3: Reckoner Knight Armor

Bonus weapons and armor

  • ME2: Equalizer Pack
  • ME2: Aegis Pack
  • ME2: Firepower Pack
  • ME2: Cerberus Weapon and Armor
  • ME2: Arc Projector
  • ME2 Alternate Appearance Pack 1
  • ME2 Alternate Appearance Pack 2
  • ME3: Firefight Pack
  • ME3: Groundside Resistance Pack
  • ME3 Alternate Appearance Pack
  • ME3: N7 Collector’s Edition Pack

The graphics are the most obvious – and notable – leap that Legendary Edition is making over the original trilogy. All three games now enjoy the benefits of modern post-processing, including ambient occlusion, subsurface scattering, and more robust depth of field effects, all of which will give the trilogy a more modern look.

Mass Effect’s character creator only got better as the series progressed, and all the features that were introduced by the time of Mass Effect 3 will now be available to you from the very start. That includes the ‘iconic’ female Shepard look that adorned ME3’s reversible box art, which has been improved to directly compete with the default male Shepard.

While Mass Effect 2 and 3 will play pretty much like they always did, Mass Effect 1 is getting a host of gameplay improvements to make it more friendly to modern audiences. ME1 always played a bit more like an RPG masquerading in shooter’s clothing, and Legendary Edition will do a lot to make those fights feel snappier and more precise.

The PC version of Legendary Edition includes the options you’re probably hoping for, including uncapped frame rates and 21:9 ultrawide support. It has a modernised options menu, and proper controller support – something that was missing from the original releases.