[Update]

　　You can find some new screenshots here. In the meantime, Neogaf's shinobi602 posted a ton of new information on the game from the latest issue of Game Informer magazine.

　　Backstory

　　Around 2185, at the height of galactic progress, unaware of the impending Reaper invasion, several species band together for the “Andromeda Initiative”4 Arks, each carrying a different race, are built, housing thousands of individuals to chart a course to AndromedaThe Heleus Cluster is noted as having a significant amount of “Golden Worlds”, or planets ripe for lifeEach ark is led by a “Pathfinder”The Pathfinder, recon teams and others onboard are in cryosleep, unaware of what transpires in the Milky Way after they departYou play as either Scott or Sara Ryder, the children of Alec Ryder (pathfinder of the human ark)Alec Ryder is voiced by Clancy BrownEvents at the start of the game occur that pass this role down to you, you are untested and unproven, unlike Commander Shepard of the previous trilogyThis doesn’t mean Mass Effect is Ryder’s story from now on, they want the game to feel like a complete story (while teasing other stories that could happen)More customization options than previous gamesYou can customize your father and your sibling, though not as extensivelyThe “Nexus” is basically a forward command center staffed by multiple species that arrives in Andromeda early to pave the way for the ArksThe Hyperion (humanity’s ark) arrives at an incorrect location that’s volatile and loses contact with the other arks and NexusInspiration

　　The (much improved) Mako of ME1, the loyalty missions of ME2, the multiplayer of ME3Combat

　　Global cooldowns are now replaced by individual timersPowers are instead hotkeyed for quick use, no longer pausing to bring up a wheel and aimDynamic cover system (ala TLOU)Still a cover based shooter with a goal to get the player moving around the battlefield moreJetpack allows for more movement variety; you can quick dash instead of rollingJetpack has a hover function that allows you to hit enemies seeking cover or survey your surroundingsLess emphasis on linear, clearly telegraphed environments that tell you a combat encounter is coming (though linear areas are still in the game)Game Informer’s hands on was positive, feel the game has a clearer identity in combat than previous gamesYou still queue up attacks, combos, order your squad, etcAll key elements are still intact but the studio wanted to encourage more experimentation and wider variety of abilitiesClass system is gone; instead you have full access to abilities from all classes, you can mix and match skills from tech, soldier or bioticsGoal is to allow players to try different approaches to combat without being locked in at the startHowever, you can still specialize once you invest enough points into a category of skills, you unlock a profile that can get you bonuses for your particular play styleThis is where class names like “Vanguard” (invest in combat and biotics) and “Adept” (invest in biotics) resurfaceInvest in multiple categories and you unlock the “Explorer” profileThere is a narrative reason that allows you to reconfigure your points throughout the game so that you can try out multiple gameplay approaches without making multiple charactersYou can customize your helmet, chest, shoulders, arms and legs, more extensive than previous trilogyMany familiar weapons return, as well as new melee options like swords and hammersEnemy/Environments/Crafting

　　The ‘Kett’ are the main enemyThe team wanted players to experience the first time encountering a new alien species vs already having it established in prior gamesRather than painting them as mortal enemies, BioWare wanted to make them feel foreboding but not ugly as they want you to also empathize with themInstead of having “linear slices” of planets that you land on, you explore these planets from the surface to their underbellyCritical paths, optional planets, major hubs, loyalty missions returnYour land vehicle is designated the “Nomad”, and the team got special guidance from NFS developers on its handling.The Nomad isn’t sluggish and cumbersome like the Mako, it’s very fast, still boosts and maneuvers much betterThe Nomad doesn’t have weapons, you can customize things like its speed and appearanceBioWare did not want to repeat having things like mineral nodes and multiple identical outposts scattered across planetsPoints of interest include combat encounters, puzzles, narrative beats etc on planetsOne planet, called ‘Elaaden’, is flagged as a possible habitat zone, however the surface is hazardous (no water, extremely hot); you can be pointed in this direction in multiple ways, for example, a Krogan can request the Pathfinder to find a missing colony ship or you can just choose to land on the planet yourself and see what you findOn planets, one of your priorities is to scout for drop zones for your crew that drop “forward stations” that establishes a foothold for youThese stations allow for changing up your loadout, fast travel point, etcPlanets can have multiple dangers like acid pools, burning wreckage, weather etc that can all kill youMost planets have at least one major enemy basePlanets can have areas, encounters and “super bosses” that are too tough for you to handle at first, encouraging players to come back laterSince Andromeda is a new galaxy, Ryder can actively scan and discover things in the environments; that gets sent back for analysis and unlocks new technologies for the playerScanning and discovering these things also allows you to obtain blueprints to craft weapons and armor for yourselfYou can create a wide array of items, not just ammo types and weapon mods, items that haven’t been seen before in the Milky Way (thanks to new alien tech)Some plot threads and missions lead you across multiple planetsSquadmates

　　Peebee: Asari squadmate shown in previous footage. Went off on her own after arriving on the Nexus and described as having a “bubbly personality”. She’s smart and not concerned with social norms and “niceties”.Liam: Arrived with the Pathfinder, former police officer and described as having a “light attitude”, bringing levity to situationsThe Tempest (Your Ship)

　　Important to harken back to the Normandy as it was a fan favoriteThere are no loading screens as you move through the shipGalaxy map returns but rather than piloting a mini ship on a map, it is more immersive, you select a planet, the game gives you sense of traveling towards that planet, and when you back out, you’re immediately at your destinationYou don’t pilot the ship manually, but it feels seamless as you go from planet to planet and see them from your bridge getting closer in the windowThey wanted a seamless experience from picking a planet to walking down to your cargo hold, hopping into the Nomad and landing on a planet. There is a landing sequence and you get off the ship. No more loading screens and instantly popping up on the surface of a planet.Relationships/Characters

　　There are more relationships in the game than any other Bioware game (as they noted fans make a big emphasis on romance in the games)The squadmate with the least amount of lines in Andromeda has more lines than the squadmate with the most amount of lines in ME3Due to complications in the awakening process, your sibling won’t join you in combat but you can interact with them and build a relationshipMany of these dealings are optional, and discovering more about the Ryder family is a plot threadBioWare is confident the details of this story are what differentiates it from a traditional “hero’s journey”Loyalty missions return but they are not critical to the ending of the game; you can complete them after you complete the main story path for exampleEmphasis that relationships don’t just culminate in a sex scene, but rather characters can just want to get in the sack, while others are interested in long term relationships and others still aren’t interested at all. Bioware wanted to capture more “shooting bottles with Garrus” moments in the game, of which there are plentyMultiplayer

　　More evolved and refined form of ME3Card based economy where you earn XP and creditsThere are microtransactions but no real world money is required, you can unlock normallyYou still set the map, enemy, as before but you can also activate modifiers that can give you decreased health (for greater reward) or more damage (less reward)Bioware also plans to release custom crafted missions with unique modifiers that players can’t change themselvesThese custom missions give you a 3rd currency, “mission funds” which allow you directly purchase items and weapons vs the mercy of random card packs; however these items are only available for a limited time in the store and can change oftenIn MP, you play as the “Apex Force”, a militia strike team from the NexusDifferent enemies require you to use different tactics (some are shield heavy, some use heavy biotics etc)Playing MP will have advantages for the single player but it absolutely does not affect the ending of the gameNew “Prestige” mechanic added: With several types of characters, you earn regular XP and prestige XP. The prestige XP goes into every character of that ‘type’, for example ‘tanky’ characters. Earning enough prestige can grant you added health for all tank characters, etc.Choices

　　No more Paragon/Renegade systemThey want more nuance and subtlety and giving the player more opportunity to express themselvesYou can agree or disagree with someone without being punished or cornered into a paragon or renegade choiceDialogue option tones: heart, head, professional and casual.These don’t affect you or sway a meter one way or another, rather they allow you freedom without worrying about unintended consequences“Narrative actions” (previously “interrupts) return but rather than giving a “red”=bad or “blue”=good choice, it can say “shoot”, leaving more ambiguity to your choiceThe future

　　Mass Effect: Andromeda leaves the door open for more games (obviously)New game+ mode allows you to change your gender if you chooseBioWare is coy about multiple endings; “it’s a suprise”, “it’s different than the trilogy”[Original Story]

　　Today is N7 Day, which means that we're getting Mass Effect Andromeda news. While the first trailer debuted at E3 2015 and we've already seen a brief gameplay video from the PlayStation 4 Pro announcement event, here's the cinematic reveal trailer. Unfortunately, at the very end of we learn that Mass Effect Andromeda has been moved from Q1 to Q2 2017, or Spring.

　　The gameplay trailer will be showcased at Geoff Keighley's The Game Awards 2016 (Los Angeles, December 1st).

　　Mass Effect Andromeda gameplay reveal at The Game Awards pic.twitter.com/Exvu6mAzpD

　　— Wario64 (@Wario64) November 7, 2016

　　We will learn more before December 1st, though, thanks to Game Informer's ongoing coverage. The first story reveals that loyalty missions for companions are coming back from Mass Effect 2. Creative Director Mac Walters said:

　　I loved the loyalty missions. As a writer, one of the things I loved was the freedom to say ‘I know this character is coming along,’ so they can carry a lot of the narrative. That made my job easier, but it also made it more fun, because I could tell a more specific story in one of those missions.

　　The big difference between this and ME2, where you did a loyalty mission and that all impacted the ending, is that they’re much more optional in this case. If you don’t want to engage with them, you don’t have to. If you want engage with them after the critical path is done, you can do that.

　　The Deluxe Edition of the game (priced at $69.99) is up for pre-order on Amazon and some of the main features were shared.

　　Chart Your Own Course in a Dangerous New GalaxyUnravel the mysteries of the Andromeda galaxy as you discover rich, alien worlds in the search for humanity’s new homeLead the First Humans in Andromeda on a Desperate Search for our New HomeIn this new chapter of Mass Effect, meet and recruit all-new, interesting characters caught up in an epic space saga filled with mystery and galactic conflictFight with your Pathfinder Team In Battle Against Terrifying Enemies and CreaturesNew additions like destructible environments, boosted jumps for added verticality, and all-new weapons and Biotics make combat more thrilling than everBuild a Formidable Hero With Amazing Weapons, Powers and TechWith a much more flexible skill and weapon progression tree, you can replicate your play style to make you unstoppable against new, powerful alien enemiesFor 1 player or up to 4 in multiplayer modeDeluxe includes: Pathfinder Casual Outfit, Scavenger Armor, Pathfinder Elite Weapon Set (4), Pet Pyjak (Monkey), Digital Soundtrack, Multiplayer Deluxe Launch Pack $5 ValueMass Effect Andromeda's Collector Edition will apparently include a remote control Nomad vehicle (priced at $199 on its own).

　　As an explorer of uncharted worlds, take control of your own officially licensed Collector's Edition NOMAD ND1 with this accurate 1:18 remote controllable vehicle featured in Mass Effect: Andromeda. This highly detailed 1:18 scale RC vehicle features 6 wheel drive with front and rear steering, is app enabled (available on Google Play and from the App Store), and includes a limited edition SteelBook case. Switch your vehicle's lights on and off and snap photos or record videos while on-the-go with the integrated camera, all through the downloadable app! The built-in rechargeable battery with included USB charge cable ensures that you'll never run out of power while you're navigating the Andromeda Galaxy.

　　There's also a Diecast version of the same vehicle, priced at $99.

　　Explore the Andromeda Galaxy with the Mass Effect: Andromeda Collector's Edition Diecast NOMAD ND1, a highly detailed replica vehicle, perfect for fans of the beloved franchise. Featuring a sturdy diecast metal body and a fully detailed interior with doors that open and close to reveal an illuminated control panel, you'll get an accurate 1:18 scale reproduction of the NOMAD ND1 presented in Mass Effect: Andromeda. The pop-up drone adds to the authenticity and the included limited edition SteelBook case takes this replica to the next level. As an explorer of uncharted worlds, show off your love of Mass Effect in style and marvel at the replica's stunningly precise design. Officially licensed by BioWare and Electronic Arts, this replica Collector's Edition Diecast NOMAD ND1 will let you experience the Mass Effect universe in an exciting new way.