There’s a new Mass Effect lithograph, and its initial product description suggests Commander Shepard could return in the next installment.
On Monday, the Bioware Gear Store began selling a “Mass Effect Mysteries” lithograph. It’s an image that the company teased last November, but that’s not what fans are going wild over — even if the artwork itself looks pretty sweet.
When the lithograph’s page initially went live, it had a peculiar description suggesting that the original Mass Effect trilogy hero Commander Shepard is coming back. Bioware has quietly re-written the listing since, removing all mention of Shepard. YouTuber MrHulthen (fortunately) managed to get some screencaps before the changes (thanks, Fanbyte).
“Shepard’s final quest may have ended the threat of the Reapers but at great cost including Earth itself,” the original listing reads. “While Shepard and the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, fans are wondering what’s next.”
Mass Effect will continue. And with this sneak peek from the @BioWare team as part of N7 Day 2021, there is a lot to unpack.
The Mass Effect Mysteries From the Future lithograph is here.https://t.co/og6rrKsShl pic.twitter.com/0ewfeN9E9c
— BioWare Gear Store (@BioWareGear) May 9, 2022
If you visit the lithograph’s page now, things look different.
“The threat of the Reapers might have been ended, but at great cost including Earth itself,” the current listing reads. “While the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, fans are left wondering what’s next.”
It’s pretty odd, especially since Shepard dies in nearly all of Mass Effect 3‘s endings. So Bioware could potentially be making the Destruction ending (where Shepard lives) canon.
Bioware has been relatively tight-lipped about the upcoming Mass Effect game thus far, probably because it’s still busy with Dragon Age 4.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
