BioWare is gearing up for the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard on October 31, which will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. Ahead of this launch, the character design featuring a somewhat cartoonish aesthetic has sparked mixed reactions among players. In light of this, BioWare has shared insights on the visual direction of the upcoming Mass Effect game, currently in development. In stark contrast to Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the next installment of the sci-fi RPG is set to adopt a more photorealistic and mature visual style and approach.
Mass Effect 5 to Embrace a Mature Art Style
Michael Gamble, the project director and executive producer, provided an update regarding the visual style of the next Mass Effect title during a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. Gamble noted that the creative approach for the upcoming entry in the Mass Effect series will differ significantly from that of Dragon Age.
“Lots of people asking me about Mass Effect now that Veilguard reviews are out, and Oct 31 is close,” Gamble stated. “Both are from the studio, but Mass Effect is Mass Effect. How you bring a Sci Fi RPG to life is different than other genres or IPs…and has to have different kinds of love,” he remarked.
Lots of people asking me about Mass Effect now that Veilguard reviews are out, and Oct 31 is close.
Both are from the studio, but Mass Effect is Mass Effect. How you bring a Sci Fi RPG to life is different than other genres or IPs…and has to have different kinds of love.
— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) October 28, 2024
In response to inquiries regarding the tone, Gamble confirmed that the upcoming Mass Effect title will retain the mature tone established in the original trilogy. “This is all I’m gonna say for now,” he added.
Leading the development team for the new Mass Effect game, Gamble also addressed comments suggesting the characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard resemble a Pixar style. This artistic choice marks a notable shift from previous Dragon Age titles, which incorporated a grittier visual aesthetic. Gamble reiterated that the new Mass Effect will not stray from realism. “I’m not sure I agree with the Pixar thing, but Mass Effect is photorealistic and will be as long as I’m running it,” he stated.
The next installment in the Mass Effect franchise was teased in a trailer unveiled at The Game Awards 2020. As of now, the game does not have an official title or release date. The most recent entry in the series was Mass Effect: Andromeda, which launched on PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2017.
