Mass Effect 3 is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[10] Officially announced on December 11, 2010,[11][12] the game is scheduled for a March 6, 2012 release[13] and will mark the final chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy of video games, completing the story of Commander Shepard.[14][15]

Gameplay in Mass Effect 3 will be influenced by decisions from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 and have settings throughout the galaxy, including Earth and Mars. Combat has been changed and refined; in particular, the cover system has been improved, there will be more options for moving around the battlefield, instant melee kills and more conventional grenades will be introduced as well as improved artificial intelligence. A four player multiplayer co-op mode will also be available.

Plot
Mass Effect 3 will begin on Earth, with Commander Shepard on trial for the consequences of his/her actions in the Mass Effect 2 DLC pack Arrival.[17] During the trial, Earth is attacked by Reapers. Faced with insurmountable odds, Shepard is forced to flee the planet in order to gather support from alien civilizations and mount a counter-attack while also having to deal with Cerberus, who have decided to turn against him/her. It is possible for Shepard to lose to the Reapers.

Gameplay
Players with saved files from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 will be given the option of importing them into Mass Effect 3.[18] If a saved file is imported, over 1,000 variables will be pulled that will help shape how the final chapter is experienced.[19] If there are no saved files available, there will be no origin-story comic for new players to help them make quick decisions like there was in Mass Effect 2.[20] Imported characters' appearance and class will be changeable, with more features and hair-styles included in the character creator than in Mass Effect 2.[6][21] Commander Shepard will always start the game with some powers.[17] Upon finishing the game, there will be a New Game+ option that allows players to continue playing after the main story ends or start again with their finished Shepard and collect items they missed the first time around.[22] The game will have 82 minutes of cut-scenes.[23]

Mass Effect 3 will have three pre-set campaign modes: Action Mode, Story Mode, and RPG Mode.[24] In Action Mode, conversations will have automatic replies and a normal combat difficulty. In Story Mode, conversations will have manual replies and a minimal combat difficulty. In RPG Mode, conversations will have manual replies and a normal combat difficulty. This last mode is reflective of the typical Mass Effect series experience. Overall, the RPG elements in the game have been improved over those in Mass Effect 2, with a more detailed leveling up system and increased weapon customization.[25] To level up characters, players will have skills that start along a single path and then eventually splinter into two branches where they can select only one upgrade or the other along a sequence of possibilities.[26] Players will also be able to customize their weapons with different scopes, mods, barrels and ammo types.[27] There will be 25 weapon mods total — five per weapon type — and each of them will have multiple power levels to collect.[28] The game will include mini-games (although planet scanning is unlikely to return) and Hammerhead and Mako missions.[6] To select dialog options, players can use Kinect to speak their choices instead of selecting them with a controller.[29]

As of August 23, 2011, BioWare has confirmed the return of previous characters Liara T'Soni, Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams, Miranda Lawson, the Illusive Man, Garrus Vakarian, Legion, Samara, Morinth, Tali'Zorah, Urdnot Wrex, Jack, Mordin Solus, David Anderson, Zaeed Massani, Kasumi Goto, Kelly Chambers, Thane Krios, Jacob Taylor and Ambassador Donnell Udina from Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2.[6][17][30] Some characters will not return if they were killed at any point during the previous games. The number of characters available as permanent squad mates will be smaller than in Mass Effect 2 for the purposes of deeper relationships and more interesting interplay, including same-sex relationship options for both male and female Shepards.[31][32] If players achieved a love interest in both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, then both previous love interests will be vying for Shepard's attention in Mass Effect 3.[33] This "love triangle" will be resolved by the end of the game. BioWare has also confirmed new characters called James Vega.[34] (voiced by Freddy Prinze Jr.) and Diana Allers (voiced by Jessica Chobot).

Combat
Combat in Mass Effect 3 has been changed and refined from Mass Effect 2, and further emphasis has been put on third-person perspective aspects to make the game more commercially viable.[35] In a preview for IGN, editor Arthur Gies went so far as to say the game "plays like a shooter" and that "combat-wise, Mass Effect 3 is in an entirely different space" from the first two games. In an article for bitgamer, Joe Martin gave a conflicting impression, noting that with regard to combat, "not a lot has changed".[36]

The series' cover system has been improved so players no longer need to slide into cover and then hop over objects. Players will have more options for moving around the battlefield, including a refined sprint capability, combat rolling, and the use of climbable ladders. Players can also blindfire their weapons from covered positions, and have opportunities to shoot selected armor pieces and limbs off enemies.[22] Verbal orders can be issued to move squad mates and use their powers with the use of Kinect.[29] Moving and shooting, a previously "suicidal maneuver" in Mass Effect 2, will finally be a viable option because of a revised melee system.[37] Players will be able to execute formidable punches and attacks, and instant melee kills will be introduced specific to each class; for example, by holding down the melee button, a soldier Shepard will deliver a killing blow with a tech-blade in his/her wrist armor. Actual, round, conventional grenades will also be available.

Mass Effect 3 plans to be the most difficult in the series, with increased artificial intelligence to challenge players and increase the sense of reward.[38] Enemies no longer act as individuals as they did in the previous games, instead fighting and supporting each other in units. Enemies include 15-foot tall Cerberus mechs, assault troopers, and ninja-style shock troops, as well as Reaperized husks of all races and Reaper ships ranging from 500m to 2 km long.[39][40] Some changes will be made to already-existing class types; for example, Engineers will be able to build turrets.

Multiplayer
Mass Effect 3 will offer a multiplayer co-op mode called "Galaxy at War".[41] In the mode, players will be able to play alongside up to three other players in unique missions that can impact the outcome of the single player campaign.[42] Each mission was designed specifically for multiplayer, and will involve taking over enemy strongholds. By completing these missions, players will give themselves a better chance of attaining a perfect ending in the single player campaign; although, they are not necessary to do so. The mode has been compared to Gears of War's horde mode.[43]

No characters from the single player campaign will be featured in the multiplayer mode. Players will create brand new characters for themselves and be able to play as members of non-human species, including asari, drell, krogans, salarians, and turians.[44] Every race will have unique powers - such as a "Krogan Charge" for krogans and different movement options out of cover between drell and humans -[45] and all classes will be playable.[43] The maximum level that created characters will be able to reach is 20, and just like in the single player mode, leveling up will include skill branches.

Gameplay in the multiplayer mode will only allow for players to carry two guns at a time in their inventory, and there will be no ring menu to change weapons; instead, weapons will be changed by holding down a button