'Mass Effect: Annihilation' Novel to Be Released in 2018
Bioware is giving "Mass Effect" fans a chance to enjoy a satisfying conclusion to one of the storylines introduced in "Mass Effect: Andromeda." However, no more story updates and DLCs are coming to the game as this continuation is in the form of a new novel.
"Mass Effect: Annihilation" is a new story by the author Catherynne M. Valente. The Hugo Award-winning writer picks up a loose end about the fate of a Quarian ark, as Bioware announced via a news post on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
The new novel will be out in stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom by June 26, 2018. "Mass Effect" fans in Australia will have to wait about two months later, though, with the novel rolling out on Aug. 28 next year for the region. Titan Books is publishing the new work.
The story deals with the events aboard the Quarian ark ship Keelah Si'yah, one of the colony ships that were first introduced in "Mass Effect: Andromeda." The vessel is home to about 20,000 Drell, Elcor, Batarian and Quarian colonists that were headed to the new galaxy, as Polygon summarizes.
In the story, a virulent pathogen has been discovered in the ark, with many helpless Drell falling victim to the plague while still in their cryogenic pods. The disease manages to cross over to the other species as well, eventually putting the ship's systems under tremendous strain.
The nature of the incident hints that this is no accident. As to who could have designed and planted the biological hazard, readers can find that out when the book launches in summer of 2018.
"Mass Effect: Andromeda," as a story, is done as far as Electronic Arts is concerned. The publisher watched as critics and fans greeted the game with lukewarm reception, and has stripped down Bioware Montreal in response. The game will not be getting any more DLC updates.
