Mass Effect 4 theories? [ FULL SPOILERS ]

[Ozone]

OK, I admit I have been late to the ME4 party and just saw the trailer today. I am so glad to see that it's returning to the characters we know and love (it's even a sequel, yay!), and the biggest question for me is "who is the protagonist"?

It personally hard to imagine the story being lead without Commander Shepard. "But ME3 has so many endings, and Shepard dies in so many of them, even my favourite one!"

I hear you. However the piece of armour Liara (?) finds does hit at something. What if they manage to [mostly] avoid addressing the series' ending? What if the Illusive Man lied all along, and he never brought Shepard back? Just a very good "clone" (I mean, physically, the clone in ME3: Citadel was very close, next to perfect). How hard would it have been to build a "Shepard" personality for it - as well?

That leaves the actual Shepard out of the play for most of the Collector/ Reaper action, so maybe they could come up with some clever backstory.

It's far fetched and maybe unrealistic, but if they would bring back Shep, I would accept this. What do you think? :D

Anyway, I should go.

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Update:

Okay, some people want the series to move on and have new characters, fair enough :)
I will list here some more points of mine of why Shepard could come back:

1) The trailer definitely hints at a continuation of the Milky Way events by emphasizing the main conflict of the trilogy, which as we well know, revolves around Shepard. Having a new character would not be "bad" by any stretch of the imagination, but after all of the criticism BioWare got for the Pathfinder, I would expect they will carefully consider whether they should choose another protagonist (which will be viewed as a "Shepard replacement" by the fans no matter what, so, lesser). Just wanted to get this out of the way as it's only my opinion and does not contain any facts.

2) Trailer also highlights a hooded asari whose facial structure is genuinely like Liara's [comparison pic][imgur.com], (possibly) looking for, and finding, an N7 piece of armor. The asari also seems to be smiling, so if it is Liara, it's definitely a Shepard-hint, considering that he/she was the closest person of the N7 program to her. May be going to far but could Liara romance be canon? Unlikely I guess.

3) The location of the trailer does not offer much detail, other than a cold, snowy world with multiple moons. Only thing it reminds me of (it also supports my initial theory), is Alchera, the planet where Normandy Crashed / Shepard "died".
[Alchera horizon pic from ME2][imgur.com]
[Shepard falling towards Alchera in ME2][imgur.com]
[Liara's ship heading towards the snowy planet in the new trailer][imgur.com]
[Normandy Crash Site][imgur.com]

3) The trailer features dead Reapers in a couple of instances, meaning that the "Destroy" ending might be canon. We know that this particular ending also includes a Shepard - surviving cutscene.

4) Liara seems to be actively picking up Shepard's armor as mentioned in point 2), due to its distinctive design. [comparison pic with real life-replica][imgur.com]. Could she really be on Alchera? We'll wait and see :)

Side note: does anyone understand what it is said at the second 0:52 , in the trailer? It might be a hint towards something, but it's well hidden.

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Theory #2 - by GoreTiger -> dealing with the aftermath of ME3 / investigating Shepard's fate

Първоначално публикувано от GoreTiger:

It's very possible that when the citadel was used to destroy the reapers, Bits and sections of the station were flung all over the galaxy.
We could be playing as a team trying to recover what happened to shephard afterwards. He could of survived, sent out a message.
The race to find the savior of the galaxy.

Also seems to fit with this post:

Първоначално публикувано от rIdzu. 🎩:

Rebuilding each of mass relays in order to travel different systems. Obvious the game will be focused in rebuilding galaxy community.

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Theory #3 - by Pudding -> far distant future + the importance of Andromeda action

Първоначално публикувано от Pudding:

To me it looks like Liara is in her Matriarch stage in the trailer, she has new wrinkles around her eyes. Since she's 109 in ME3, that means several hundred years in the future, probably the same timeline as Andromeda. We also see the Andromeda universe briefly before zooming in on the Milky Way.

Micheal Gamble posted on Twitter saying the link to Andromeda was intentional.

It looks to be set in the destroy ending, since we see two dead reapers. Also some of the radio dialogue says something about communications going dark, could be a reference to when the reapers hit or could be the impact the crucible had on all technology.
[...]

[JonteWhat!?]

Whatever Mass Effect 4 is I know this much, it's made by the Andromeda/Anthem team, that is enough to make me hesitant to any form of excitement. Hopefully management in Bioware has either been changed or improved since then, most of Andromeda and Anthems failures can be attributed to management being incompetent and wasting valuable dev time, that and EA forcing them to use Frostbite despite the devs telling them its practically useless for making RPG's.

[Ozone]

Първоначално публикувано от Jontewhat:

Whatever Mass Effect 4 is I know this much, it's made by the Andromeda/Anthem team, that is enough to make me hesitant to any form of excitement. Hopefully management in Bioware has either been changed or improved since then, most of Andromeda and Anthems failures can be attributed to management being incompetent and wasting valuable dev time, that and EA forcing them to use Frostbite despite the devs telling them its practically useless for making RPG's.

I heard they will leave behind the "live service" elements they had planned with the next Dragon Age, so they might be getting on the right track again!

[Pudding]

To me it looks like Liara is in her Matriarch stage in the trailer, she has new wrinkles around her eyes. Since she's 109 in ME3, that means several hundred years in the future, probably the same timeline as Andromeda. We also see the Andromeda universe briefly before zooming in on the Milky Way.

Micheal Gamble posted on Twitter saying the link to Andromeda was intentional.

It looks to be set in the destroy ending, since we see two dead reapers. Also some of the radio dialogue says something about communications going dark, could be a reference to when the reapers hit or could be the impact the crucible had on all technology.

The piece of armor Liara finds could be her reminiscing about Shepard or the past, but I can't see why they'd add that to the trailer and NOT expect people to get pissed if Shepard isn't involved somehow. Shepard is the most recognizable N7 character after all.

We also briefly hear mention of an ARK 6 in the trailer, in Andromeda there is no such thing. Perhaps it was sent after/during the Reaper war? Or it could be the Nexus.

The only way I could see Shepard still being alive would be with Cryostasis, if Javik could survive 50,000 years (and Ryder 600) in a pod so can Shepard. BUT, that brings the question of why would they do that? No idea. Unless it had something to do with ARK 6.

Honestly though, we won't know until they tell us, really.

[Metadragon]

I bet the legendary edition saves are gonna be able to copy over into ME4. Liara finds an N7 logo (from a helmet) on an icy planet with two moons.

If everyone will recall, the Normandy SR1 crashed on an icy planet and thats where they recovered Shepard's body. Liara found him and handed him to Cerberus.

So that teaser is just showing us stuff we already know.

[Ozone]

Първоначално публикувано от Metadragon: Destroyer of Hope:

I bet the legendary edition saves are gonna be able to copy over into ME4. Liara finds an N7 logo (from a helmet) on an icy planet with two moons.

If everyone will recall, the Normandy SR1 crashed on an icy planet and thats where they recovered Shepard's body. Liara found him and handed him to Cerberus.

So that teaser is just showing us stuff we already know.

There are also dead Reapers around there, in the trailer.

Първоначално публикувано от Pudding:

To me it looks like Liara is in her Matriarch stage in the trailer, she has new wrinkles around her eyes. Since she's 109 in ME3, that means several hundred years in the future, probably the same timeline as Andromeda. We also see the Andromeda universe briefly before zooming in on the Milky Way.

Micheal Gamble posted on Twitter saying the link to Andromeda was intentional.

It looks to be set in the destroy ending, since we see two dead reapers. Also some of the radio dialogue says something about communications going dark, could be a reference to when the reapers hit or could be the impact the crucible had on all technology.

The piece of armor Liara finds could be her reminiscing about Shepard or the past, but I can't see why they'd add that to the trailer and NOT expect people to get pissed if Shepard isn't involved somehow. Shepard is the most recognizable N7 character after all.

We also briefly hear mention of an ARK 6 in the trailer, in Andromeda there is no such thing. Perhaps it was sent after/during the Reaper war? Or it could be the Nexus.

The only way I could see Shepard still being alive would be with Cryostasis, if Javik could survive 50,000 years (and Ryder 600) in a pod so can Shepard. BUT, that brings the question of why would they do that? No idea. Unless it had something to do with ARK 6.

Honestly though, we won't know until they tell us, really.

Some good points. Maybe some stories will be linked somehow, considering that it takes ~600 years to travel between the galaxies, I doubt characters from Andromeda will be involved much. Unless they found a wormhole or something

[GoreTiger]

It's very possible that when the citadel was used to destroy the reapers, Bits and sections of the station were flung all over the galaxy.
We could be playing as a team trying to recover what happened to shephard afterwards. He could of survived, sent out a message.
The race to find the savior of the galaxy.

[benwaggoner]

Първоначално публикувано от Jontewhat:

Whatever Mass Effect 4 is I know this much, it's made by the Andromeda/Anthem team, that is enough to make me hesitant to any form of excitement. Hopefully management in Bioware has either been changed or improved since then, most of Andromeda and Anthems failures can be attributed to management being incompetent and wasting valuable dev time, that and EA forcing them to use Frostbite despite the devs telling them its practically useless for making RPG's.

Andromeda was primarily made by the now-closed Bioware Montreal, so I don't know that there will be THAT much staff overlap. ME:A was really too big a game for a team to take on as their first non-DLC title.

[GoreTiger]

Първоначално публикувано от benwaggoner:

Първоначално публикувано от Jontewhat:

Whatever Mass Effect 4 is I know this much, it's made by the Andromeda/Anthem team, that is enough to make me hesitant to any form of excitement. Hopefully management in Bioware has either been changed or improved since then, most of Andromeda and Anthems failures can be attributed to management being incompetent and wasting valuable dev time, that and EA forcing them to use Frostbite despite the devs telling them its practically useless for making RPG's.

Andromeda was primarily made by the now-closed Bioware Montreal, so I don't know that there will be THAT much staff overlap. ME:A was really too big a game for a team to take on as their first non-DLC title.

Not to mention the team was gutted halfway through for anthem.

[ADhalism]

Първоначално публикувано от GoreTiger:

It's very possible that when the citadel was used to destroy the reapers, Bits and sections of the station were flung all over the galaxy.
We could be playing as a team trying to recover what happened to shephard afterwards. He could of survived, sent out a message.
The race to find the savior of the galaxy.

ooh i like that

[Ozone]

Първоначално публикувано от ADhalism:

Първоначално публикувано от GoreTiger:

It's very possible that when the citadel was used to destroy the reapers, Bits and sections of the station were flung all over the galaxy.
We could be playing as a team trying to recover what happened to shephard afterwards. He could of survived, sent out a message.
The race to find the savior of the galaxy.

ooh i like that

Today I learned I actually want another protagonist :D

[alexander_dougherty]

Първоначално публикувано от glorfindel1983:

Първоначално публикувано от Ozone:

Yeah but Mikey pointed out, a trailer that shows the Milky Way going through the major events of the Mass Effect trilogy , with a Liara-looking asari finding a piece of N7 armor on top of a *dead* Reaper (which also points out which ending might be "canon") does make you think they are hinting at Shepard. I mean, if the Destroy ending is canon and Shep is going to make a comeback that way due to the scene we see if we get high EMS - it would be even better than my poor ass theory =))

Your theory is as good as anyone else's! I just think that if Neo-BioWare can't move past Shepard then they really shouldn't even bother!

Indeed, Shepard's story is over, even if he is still alive, he's done his bit, time for a new hero.

The problem is they don't have any idea of how to move on.... Andromeda proved that, Ryder's story was just a biproduct of Shepard's story... And the writing was weak...

They need to figure out what story they want to tell first, then make the game, not the other way around.

[Monéo Atréides]

I'm glad that the destroy ending is canon.

No way a Shepard comply with reapers.

[TheRandomGuy]

Well, the trailer also shows both the Milky Way AND Andromeda Galaxies, and Bioware will eventually have to tie both the OG Trilogy and Andromeda together at some point.

They could go and say Cerberus was involved with the Initiative (shadowy benefactor) and possibly built a Mass-Relay into the Nexus, especially since the Protheans basically replicated Mass Relay Technology in ME1 (Illos Conduit was basically one), meaning it isn't impossible. That way we could connect Andromeda and the Milky Way easily and allow for surviving characters (Now-Matriarch Liara and Battlemaster Grunt for example) to show up while also being so far into the future that simple characters and decisions wouldn't matter so much, just canonize Destroy and have a rebuilt Milky Way.

It would also allow them to continue using, or building off of the Kett or Remnant from Andromeda instead of having to create a wholly new antagonist, since we know next to nothing about the Remnant and the Kett forces from Andromeda were just a fraction of them in one cluster.

As much as I hate to say it, Shep's story is effectively over. He fought the Reapers and saved the galaxy from em, now we have to get a new cast and new antagonists for ME4.

[GoreTiger]

Първоначално публикувано от TheRandomGuy:

Well, the trailer also shows both the Milky Way AND Andromeda Galaxies, and Bioware will eventually have to tie both the OG Trilogy and Andromeda together at some point.

They could go and say Cerberus was involved with the Initiative (shadowy benefactor) and possibly built a Mass-Relay into the Nexus, especially since the Protheans basically replicated Mass Relay Technology in ME1 (Illos Conduit was basically one), meaning it isn't impossible. That way we could connect Andromeda and the Milky Way easily and allow for surviving characters (Now-Matriarch Liara and Battlemaster Grunt for example) to show up while also being so far into the future that simple characters and decisions wouldn't matter so much, just canonize Destroy and have a rebuilt Milky Way.

It would also allow them to continue using, or building off of the Kett or Remnant from Andromeda instead of having to create a wholly new antagonist, since we know next to nothing about the Remnant and the Kett forces from Andromeda were just a fraction of them in one cluster.

As much as I hate to say it, Shep's story is effectively over. He fought the Reapers and saved the galaxy from em, now we have to get a new cast and new antagonists for ME4.

No they won't. Andromeda takes place 600 years after me2. It's also stated in Andromeda to takes 100 years for a message to travel from andromeda to the milky way. So unless they do a major timeskip in the milky way, They don't have to do anything major to tie the games together other then the mention of it a few times.

[rIdzu. x64 👊😎]

Rebuilding each of mass relays in order to travel different systems. Obvious the game will be focused in rebuilding galaxy community.