In many ways,Mass EffectandStar Warsshare a lot of similarities. Both feature aliens, space travel, a threat looming over the galaxy, heroes, villains and a whole lot more. If that got you thinking that having a Han Solo-like figure in the leading role might be a great idea, apparently you’re not the only one.
In arecent interview withTheGamer,Mass Effectdevelopment director Dorian Kieken said that such a game was once in the works at BioWare. “We explored a game concept back in 2008, a bit after the shipping of [Mass Effect,] where you were playing a Han Solo type of character in aStar Control-inspired game in theMass Effectuniverse,” said Kieken. “The game was intended to expand theMass Effectuniverse and be done in parallel [with] the trilogy.”
Although Han Solo is remembered as a hero in theStar Warsuniverse, it is easy to forget that the smuggler has a checkered past. Before his adventures with Luke Skywalker and company, he was somewhere in between a good and bad guy. He wasn’t necessarily a bad person, but would do bad things if it meant he can get by. Apparently exploring this kind of character was something that BioWare’s developers were interested in.
“I like the idea of exploring a ‘grayer’ character, akin to a smuggler/pirate type in the [Mass Effect] universe,” said Kieken. He mentioned “it’s a bit like exploring theStar Warsuniverse without being a Jedi, or theWarhammer 40Kuniverse without being a Space Marine.”
The concept is certainly intriguing and is one that, as aMass Effectfan, I would love to see become a reality one day. However, with the success of the original game and the pressure to follow up big, Kieken explained that it was best for the development team to focus onMass Effect 2, which ultimately ended up being the right decisiongiven the sequel’s success.
In otherMass Effectnews, a remaster of the original trilogy titledMass Effect Legendary Editionwas announcedand will release on June 14, 2025 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. A Nintendo Switch port has yet to be announced, but hasn’t been ruled out according to BioWare.
