It let Bioware change major story elements right up until release day.Ĭoncerning Mass Effect 3's ending, it's intriguing how little changed, despite how many differences there were in the story leading up to it. Mass Effect's ending may have been isolated from the main narrative by design. But a rushed production schedule and the leak caused Bioware to abandon many plot threads and push out a more streamlined, simplified plot. Old Mass Effect 1 and 2 characters like Emily Wong, Kal'Reegar, and the Consort had major roles that were cut, benched Mass Effect 2 characters like Thane and Kasumi had longer missions, and villains like Udina were given more context for their actions. You learn revelations from the Starchild, then must choose to destroy, control, or 'become one' with the Reapers.

You sync the Crucible to the Citadel as per the original ending.

As Lord Protector, you would have to order ships and troops to protect the Crucible's approach, sacrificing troops and potentially fan-favorite characters in the process.

The final Priority: Earth mission, like the ending of Mass Effect 2, would have had more interactivity and consequences.

Zaeed infiltrates Cerberus to assassinate its leaders and learn more about how the troops are being augmented with Reaper tech.

After the Citadel coup / saving the council again, Shepard is given the title 'Lord Protector of the Galaxy'.

During the Thessia confrontation, you must choose to save either Liara or the Virmire survivor.

Kai Leng frames Shepard for the murder of a spectre, turning Kaidan or Ashley against you.

When he awakes on Eden Prime, he causes so much chaos and death that Shepard is blamed and loses their spectre status.

Javik wasn't just a Prothean survivor he was the Catalyst to the Crucible.

That script is hard to find online these days, but thanks to Redditors we know some fascinating details of what (allegedly) could have been in Mass Effect 3: Unlike Naughty Dog, which stuck to its guns, Bioware allegedly changed major story beats of the final game so that players wouldn't know what was coming. Similar to how the Last of Us II leaked before launch and sparked fan outrage, a version of the Mass Effect 3 script leaked a few months before launch with some controversial scenes players didn't like.

Mass effect 3 thane survive