This is Okieeomi from the Community team, bringing you the spookyscoop.
But before we get onto today's agenda, this year's Heavensturn seasonal event will conclude on Wednesday, 19 January at 14:59 (GMT) so be sure to take part in the festivities before it ends!
Now then, the All Saints' Wake seasonal event will make its triumphant return after Heavensturn on Thursday, 20 January. Let's go over the event details and rewards, shall we?
Event Period From Thursday, 20 January 2022 at 8:00
to Wednesday, 2 February 2022 at 14:59 (GMT)
How to Participate
Speak to the Adventurers' Guild Investigator located in Old Gridania (X:10.4 Y:8.4) to begin the All Clowns' Wake quest.
Rewards ▼Modern Cosmetics - Clowning Around
One of the rewards is this spooktacular face paint--fit to scare any voidsent's socks right off! I'm also quite sure the face paint will spark some cosplay inspired glamours. I for one cannot wait to see the face paint paired with the /malevolence emote!
Who doesn't want a new glamour?! Another reward is the Clown's attire. Not only does this outfit boast a classical look but it also consists of individual pieces of gear so that you may mix and match to your heart's content! ♡
▼Outdoor Furnishing: Haunted Pumpkin Set
And our housing enthusiasts can also pick up their very own patch of pumpkins! They may look like ordinary gourds now but...
At night spooky spirits will appear and proceed to haunt your yard 'til dawn! *Mwhahahahahaha!*
▼Furnishing: Pumpkin Flower Vase
Like the outdoor pumpkins, these indoor pumpkins really set the standard for interior design. Fancy, functional, and frightening all the same, what more could one ask for in a gourd!
◆ Seasonal Event Content ▼ The Phantoms' Feast
Ohohohoh, but we're not done yet. Could it be...a haunted dungeon!? I daresay, what sort of frightening feasts await us within?
▼ The Haunted Manor
Some may remember The Haunted Manor from years past and we're happy to say it will return again this All Saints' Wake! Speak to the genial guiser by the Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre to enter the manor.
Don't forget, the unsavory imp located in room #108 will allow you to transform into various people you have met throughout your journey.
Don't miss this opportunity to take on the appearance of your favorite character and take a group pose with everyone!
Okieeomi
- Community team
----
Visit the All Saints' Wake special site.
It’s been just over a year since I took over as General Manager of BioWare. As we start the new year, I wanted to take the opportunity to look back on 2021, talk about where we are as a studio right now, and share some thoughts and plans for the future.
This has been another challenging year, with both work and home life continuing to be disrupted by the uncertainty of the global pandemic. We’ve had to continue to think on our feet to adapt to changing circumstances. But despite all that, it has been an absolute joy to lead a studio with so many unbelievably talented people, a team that always pushes the envelope through innovation and an unflagging pursuit of quality. Looking back, we had a couple of exciting moments when two people at the studio reached historic milestones: They both celebrated working with BioWare for 25 years! That blows my mind! The entire studio celebrated along with them, and it was amazing hearing what the studio, the people, and the journey have meant to them.
Even with the challenges of the pandemic, we saw some earlier success with the incredible reception to the launch of Mass Effect Legendary Edition in May. From the press to our fans, the feedback has been insanely positive. We’re so proud to have released one of the highest-rated games on console, and the reception really underscores the value of striving for excellence and quality in every element of a game.
This past year certainly hasn’t been without its challenges, though. Continuing to work under the pressure of a world pandemic has not been easy. We’ve had to adopt new tools, processes, and ways to communicate. We’re all balancing personal time and work, and each person is dealing with their own unique situation. The biggest challenge continues to be the uncertainty of it all, which makes everyone’s life more difficult and makes it hard to plan for the future.
But that’s had its upsides, too. We’ve come together as a studio to help each other out, even in our personal lives. We show up for each other and pull together as a team. One example is the February “Snowpocalypse” in Austin when the storm had literally taken down the city. It was encouraging and inspiring to hear how people were going above and beyond to ensure others were safe, including finding shelter or delivering food and water.
The pandemic has also taught us a lot about how we can work together, even while working across North America from hundreds of different locations. And now, we’ll use what we’ve learned and apply it to a new work model that will ensure flexibility for everyone in the studio. Our goal is to lean into the things that everyone likes about working from home, while also giving people the opportunity to return to the office with more flexibility. Going forward, we’ll have new challenges with a hybrid approach to work and are focused on new tech that will help maximize collaboration and communication between onsite and remote people. Another subtle but important change we’ve made is in our hiring practices: Previously, we were only looking for people willing to relocate to Austin and Edmonton; now we’re looking for new talent from anywhere in North America and we’ll meet them where they live.
So as challenging as things have been, we have a lot of really exciting things to look forward to — especially our upcoming releases! First off, I’m excited to launch Legacy of the Sith, the latest expansion for Star Wars®: The Old Republic, on February 15. We’re on the doorstep of a new expansion that will see the players with more combat style choices, a new storyline that returns you to the underwater depths of Manaan and the ruined Sith fortress on the planet Elom, and so much more! It all starts in February, and we’ll have more updates throughout the year. We are extremely proud of having created a game that has been running successfully for ten years now.
And of course, we remain hard at work on the next iterations of Dragon Age and Mass Effect. I’m seeing some incredible work from both teams. If you’re curious about Mass Effect, I’d encourage you to take a look at the poster we released on N7 Day. If you look closely, there are a handful of hidden treats; by my count, there are at least five surprises, all of which point to an amazing future in the Mass Effect universe. As for Dragon Age, we have a veteran group of talented developers working on the next iteration of the franchise. We are focused on a single-player experience that is built on choices that matter.
When I took on the GM role, I talked about rebuilding our reputation, and that remains a huge priority. We are laser-focused on building back the trust of our fans and community, and we plan to do that by delivering the types of games that we are best known for and ensuring they are of the highest quality. Our mission is to “Create worlds of adventure, conflict, and companionship that inspire you to become the hero of your story.” We want the launch of our games to be seminal moments in the industry. We want each game to earn the kind of reaction we’ve seen with Mass Effect Legendary Edition. We feel that we have the right people, the right creative focus, and the support from EA to deliver on the promise.
One of my favorite quotes from 2021 comes from GameSpot’s Games of the Year roundup, and I think it illustrates that we’re moving in the right direction: “Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a gargantuan reminder of just how good developer BioWare is when it’s firing on all cylinders.”
We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on and look forward to sharing more in the future. Until then, thank you for being part of our story.
Greetings, this is Sicycre from the Community team.
Are you enjoying the ongoing Starlight Celebration? Just a heads up, it'll only be available until Friday, 31 December at 14:59 (GMT) so don't miss out!
And as usual, with the beginning of the year comes Heavensturn, so let's take a sneak peek at the seasonal event and its rewards!
Event Period From Wednesday, 5 January, 2022 at 8:00
to Wednesday, 19 January, 2022 at 14:59 (GMT)
* Following the postponement of Endwalker's release date, the Heavensturn seasonal event will begin on Wednesday, 5 January, a day after the release of Patch 6.05. Prior to this, Heavensturn decorations will appear starting on Friday, 31 December.
How to Participate
Speak with the tora bugyo at Limsa Lominsa, Upper Decks (X:11.5 Y:13.9) to begin.
Heavensturn is a celebratory custom to choose a figurehead for the coming year. In Eorzea, the overseeing deity is decided amongst the Twelve; denizens of the Far East, however, appoint their figurehead from twelve totemic animals.
This year, the tiger has been chosen. According to Far Eastern delegates, they plan to perform a special ceremony to ward off evil spirits from the land.
Rewards ▼ Equipment: Gold Tora Kabuto / Silver Tora Kabuto
Aren't these kabuto amazing?!
All you have to do is complete the seasonal event quests and you'll be able to choose to receive one of the two!
Oh, you wanted both? Don't you worry, you can still get the other version from the seasonal event vendor after completing the quest! (For the record, I wanted both, too. /thumbsup)
I wish to look as fierce as this man.
▼ Furnishing: The White Tiger
Alongside the amazing kabuto, you can also obtain this folding screen furnishing which features the fearsome Byakko of Eastern legend! Matching the ferocity of the helmets, this just adds to it all! It looks so POWERFUL!
For all you home decorators out there, you may be pleased to hear that it is a considerably large furnishing, so it'll surely stand out within your abode with its lasting presence.
This year was packed with so many amazing memories to reflect upon, such as the Digital Fan Festival, the 14-hour broadcast, and of course, the release of Endwalker! We're all grateful for the support we've received from all the Warriors of Light around the world.
We're hoping to continue our adventure with all of you in 2022! We wish you all a Happy New Year and a Happy Heavensturn~!!
Sicycre
- Community team
------------------------------
Please be sure to visit the Heavensturn special website.
Today marks an incredible milestone for STAR WARS: The Old Republic, our 10 year anniversary! Our amazing journey up until this point is one many of you have taken with us, and we’re honored to have shared all these years of Star Wars adventures with all of you.
We launched on December 20, 2011 – a decade doesn’t seem all that long, but in that time, we’ve delivered nearly 300 patches and are about to release our 8th expansion. And in that same time span, my family grew a lot, including 5 grandkids, 4 dogs, and two cats.
Moreover, I’m very proud of the SWTOR team, as we’ve been together for many years, and a great number of us have been working on this game since before launch. In fact, many people on my development team are long-term veterans, and we all love this game, enjoy the camaraderie, the history together, and creating a game y’all enjoy every day.
It is rewarding to lead a group of talented people who have accomplished so much over the years, and though there have been hurdles such as adapting to the pandemic, my team has overcome them, and they continue to strive in building a great Star Wars game.
Over the last decade, many memories have been made both through the game and with our in-person events. These have always been key with connecting to our players. I mentioned in our last livestream how much I missed seeing everyone in person. So safety and event regulations permitting, we are laying down the groundwork to have our first Cantina in almost two years at SW Celebration in May 2022! As always, we will share more details when we have them.
In our previous livestreams, we’ve given players a look into where Legacy of Sith will take them including some new characters who will be joining their adventures. We’ve also talked about how our 10th anniversary is going to be celebrated year long! Here is a whole variety of activities currently running both in and out of game from December 2021 through January 2022:
Star Wars Insider January (#207) Issue – Special Edition Darth Malgus cover (now on shelves!)
Life Day is running from December 14, 2021 to January 11, 2022
Our annual Anniversary event is running for an entire year! From December 14, 2021 to January 2023
The anniversary vendor has all existing rewards and new rewards will be added starting in 7.0!
Our Double XP event starts today and will run to January 4, 2022
Cartel Market sales are starting today!
From December 20, 2021 to January 3, 2022
Seasonal items will be available
75% off all Collection Unlocks
From December 20, 2021 to December 27, 2021
50% off all Armor Sets
50% off Character Slots
From December 27, 2021 to January 3, 2022
50% off all Mounts and Stronghold Decorations
Feast of Prosperity will run from January 11, 2022 to February 1, 2022
All of this leads me to giving you some insight into what’s going to happen after 7.0 launches. Legacy of the Sith is laying the groundwork for some exciting updates that will be made throughout the next year and beyond. While exact details are still under wraps, we do have a clear vision for the next few years and I’d like to share what our key focuses will be. They fall into two categories: Content and Modernization.
Content Hot on the heels of 7.0, we’ll have another update with the R-4 Anomaly Operation and a new daily area set in an all-new section of Manaan. Beyond that, your character’s personal saga will continue in an epic storyline extending through multiple patches in 2022 and beyond. After the dramatic conclusion of 7.0 on Elom, you’ll continue to unravel the mysteries of Darth Nul, join the erupting civil war among the Mandalorian clans, and discover the true objective Darth Malgus is pursuing. All the while working alongside old friends like Kira, Scourge, Akaavi, and Torian, as well as some new faces you’ll meet for the first time in 7.0. You’ll also explore new locations (some are new to SWTOR, others are entirely new creations!) and perhaps even gain an opportunity to return to where your character’s journey first began so long ago…
As always, you can expect all of this to unfold across a variety of content types: single player, multiplayer, Flashpoints, Operations, Daily Areas, and more. New progression gear will become available throughout the year starting with the R-4 Anomaly Operation, and as we add gear progression after 7.1, we’ll also ensure that previously available gear will become more accessible to players.
We also have some exciting updates coming to PvP after 7.0 that we’re looking forward to sharing with you after launch!
Modernization As many of you have already seen on PTS, a huge part of the team’s work in 7.0 focused on modernizing many aspects of the game. A totally revamped Character Creation experience, new character sheet, great new features like Loadouts and Weapons in Outfitter, and of course the dramatically expanded gameplay options offered through Combat Styles.
At 7.0: Advance Classes now known as Combat Styles. Class is now known as Origin Story.
We’re going to continue updating UI elements throughout the game next year – in some cases, these will primarily be visual updates to make our style more cohesive and ensure proper scaling on high-resolution screens, but we also look forward to improving accessibility and the everyday user experience in other parts of the game as we did with Loadouts in 7.0.
We’re also eager to upgrade our visuals elsewhere in SWTOR: starting with Tython, Korriban, Hutta, and Ord Mantell, we’ll be starting a process of upgrading the visual fidelity of our planets to bring them more in line with the amazing work the team has created in recent years.
As you can see we have such an exciting future ahead and we will be sharing more details with all of you especially after 7.0 launches early next year, so expect to hear from me again! Ten years is a milestone we are so proud of and we are so thankful that you continue to join us on this adventure. To each and every one of you, happy 10th anniversary, we wish you a year full of much love, health, and lots of gaming!
Greetings, this is Voltenyne from the Community team.
As Warriors of Light play through the finale of FFXIV's first grand saga in Endwalker, we're also heading toward another momentous finale--the end of 2021! Let's dive into something that everyone looks forward to at the end of each year in Eorzea, the Starlight Celebration!
During this wintry time of year, the Starlight Celebration is a welcome event that warms our hearts.
Event PeriodThursday, 16 December at 8:00 to Friday, 31 December at 14:49 (GMT)
How to Participate
Speak with Amh Garanjy in Old Gridania (X:10.2 Y:9.4) to begin the seasonal event quest.
A diminutive yeti named Rudy is looking to express his thanks to his rescuer, but lacks the confidence to do so, due to a certain "incident." Accompanied by Rissai, you and your new friend set out on a bite-sized adventure this Starlight Celebration!
◆ Rewards
Minions: Wind-up Rudy / Squirrel Emperor
Take a look at these adorable minions modeled after Rudy and Rissai. They may be dressed for the gift-giving season, but their cute movements might just steal your heart!
Indoor Furnishing: Starlight Mobile
This winter-themed furnishing is sure to fill your home with fond memories of the Starlight Celebration.
It's quite soothing to watch as it gently spins.
Perhaps it'll be nice to take the load off your feet and relax as the mobile eases your mind...
...into a gentle slumber.
See you next time!
Voltenyne
- Community team
------------------------------
Visit the Starlight Celebration special site.
We are blown away that all of you celebrate Dragon Age Day every year and appreciate everyone that does. Dragon Age Day launched unofficially by fans, for fans, in the Fall of 2018 by Teresa “ImaSithDuh” M, with a small team of founders also including Angela Mitchell, Savvy B., and Alistair SM James, as well as former participants Ghil Dirthalen and Andrastini. We really appreciate the team behind Dragon Age Day for bringing us all together while supporting inclusivity and accessibility with a contribution to Able Gamers charity in the process!
This day belongs to you, our awesome community. In that spirit, we want to celebrate with you as fellow fans while spotlighting your unique and imaginative contributions to a world we all love. All-day we’ll be showcasing your amazing original creations on social, dropping new Dragon Age merch on Dark Horse Direct, Gaming Heads, and the BioWare Gear Store, as well as giving away plenty of gift cards. Tag your posts on Twitter using #BioWareGiveaway for a chance to win. Apex Legends has also gotten in on the fun with a Dragon Age themed Highland Ravager Weapon Charm available to EA Play members to claim anytime between December 2, 2021, and January 4, 2022.
Additionally, the Dragon Age Day team will be hosting events including charity rewards on sale from Dragon Age fan artists, 24+ hours of Twitch Livestreams all day today, writing, art & meme prompts and challenges, and videos spotlighting personal insights from the Dragon Age fan community (this year’s question: “Who is your favorite Dragon Age Companion/Character, and Why?). You can also view the full list of activities here.
We are continuously amazed by the passionate, diverse, inspiring, and creative community that has come together to join us in the land of Thedas. We are humbled by the ways in which you have expanded and celebrated the world of Dragon Age. From captivating fan fiction, beautiful character art, and cutting-edge cosplay to themed weddings, birthdays, tattoos, and even baby names, the world of Thedas has extended beyond the games and is now its own living breathing place embodied by all of you. We can not thank you all enough for your continued support and love for the franchise. It is what inspires us each and every day to continue to build new worlds, characters, and stories for you to explore.
Speaking of building new worlds and stories for you to explore, we want to let you all know that we’re still hard at work on building the next single-player-focused experience for Dragon Age. We’re excited for next year when we can talk more about what we’re working on. Until then, we’ll leave you with two new short stories from the world of Dragon Age!
We are blown away that all of you celebrate Dragon Age Day every year and appreciate everyone that does. Dragon Age Day launched unofficially by fans, for fans, in the Fall of 2018 by Teresa “ImaSithDuh” M, with a small team of founders also including Angela Mitchell, Savvy B., and Alistair SM James, as well as former participants Ghil Dirthalen and Andrastini. We really appreciate the team behind Dragon Age Day for bringing us all together while supporting inclusivity and accessibility with a contribution to Able Gamers charity in the process!
This day belongs to you, our awesome community. In that spirit, we want to celebrate with you as fellow fans while spotlighting your unique and imaginative contributions to a world we all love. All-day we’ll be showcasing your amazing original creations on social, dropping new Dragon Age merch on Dark Horse Direct, Gaming Heads, and the BioWare Gear Store, as well as giving away plenty of gift cards. Tag your posts on Twitter using #BioWareGiveaway for a chance to win. Apex Legends has also gotten in on the fun with a Dragon Age themed Highland Ravager Weapon Charm available to EA Play members to claim anytime between December 2, 2021, and January 4, 2022.
Additionally, the Dragon Age Day team will be hosting events including charity rewards on sale from Dragon Age fan artists, 24+ hours of Twitch Livestreams all day today, writing, art & meme prompts and challenges, and videos spotlighting personal insights from the Dragon Age fan community (this year’s question: “Who is your favorite Dragon Age Companion/Character, and Why?). You can also view the full list of activities here.
We are continuously amazed by the passionate, diverse, inspiring, and creative community that has come together to join us in the land of Thedas. We are humbled by the ways in which you have expanded and celebrated the world of Dragon Age. From captivating fan fiction, beautiful character art, and cutting-edge cosplay to themed weddings, birthdays, tattoos, and even baby names, the world of Thedas has extended beyond the games and is now its own living breathing place embodied by all of you. We can not thank you all enough for your continued support and love for the franchise. It is what inspires us each and every day to continue to build new worlds, characters, and stories for you to explore.
Speaking of building new worlds and stories for you to explore, we want to let you all know that we’re still hard at work on building the next single-player-focused experience for Dragon Age. We’re excited for next year when we can talk more about what we’re working on. Until then, we’ll leave you with two new short stories from the world of Dragon Age!
Greetings, everyone! This is Zhexos from the Community team!
Have you been keeping up with the Endwalker countdown illustrations?
Seeing those wonderful illustrations really hits home that the expansion is near!
With the help of the Screenshot Alliance, everyone in the QA team, and the Community team, I'd like to share a number of updates that will be added to the Group Pose feature!
▼ New frames and stickers will be added.
Here's a brief rundown of what'll be added!
- A new frame featuring musical staves
- Job icons for sage and reaper
- Washi tape styled after Kugane/Doma/Crystarium/Eulmore/Bozja
- All sorts of adorable stickers, including minion-themed doodles
It'll be great to have all these new additions since we're all going to be taking so many screenshots during Endwalker!
▼ Group Pose will be available during Performance mode.
Using Group Pose while Performance mode is enabled was not originally planned for, so after numerous investigations and thorough checking, it'll be here as an official feature starting Patch 6.0!
Not to mention it'll remember and replay the last Performance action you used! Amazing!
Even if you find Performance mode a bit intimidating, you can take wonderful screenshots that make you seem like Eorzea's next big musician!
▼ NPCs that accompany you in certain quests introduced with Patch 6.0 can be set as targets.
We announced this feature in the latest Letter from the Producer LIVE.
Just think of all the screenshots you could take!
It'd be a shame to go through the main scenario without knowing you can use Group Pose during these sequences, so be sure to tell your friends!
▼ Actions exclusive to transformation and role-playing sequences will be replayable.
It'd be quicker to just see what I mean, so take a look at the following!
That's right, you can now take screenshots of your favourite characters in their best moments! Adding this feature during a new expansion release is just such impeccable timing!
And that concludes the sneak peek!
Group Pose is a wonderful feature that makes it easier to take the screenshots you've always wanted! I hope you'll make the best of it during Endwalker's release, as you capture your moments of triumph and memories with fellow Warriors of Light.
To wrap things up, here's a screenshot we took while playing around with the updates described in this sneak peek!
Our Legacy of the Sith Story Livestream was jam-packed with information! If you were unable to watch–or if you want a recap of everything we showed–we have you covered! Read on for a breakdown of what we showed, including links to everything so you can watch what you missed.
Our Livestream pre-show started with a pre-recorded interview of Enuka Okuma, the voice of Tau Idair, hosted by Charles Boyd and Eric Musco!
To celebrate the upcoming launch of the new SWTOR expansion, Legacy of the Sith, use the code LotsofTau on this page to get your own Tau Idair Stronghold decoration. Don’t wait too long, as this code can only be used for a limited time.
The Livestream, hosted by Community Manager Jackie Ko and Creative Director Charles Boyd, started with more insight into the new expansion’s story, including a presentation of the new locations you will explore. From the underwater facilities of Manaan to the ruined Sith fortress on Elom to the R-4 Anomaly (coming early 2022). We also learned more about returning characters and some new ones who will team up with you in your fight.
We are happy to reveal the official key art for Star Wars: The Old Republic: Legacy of the Sith.
We closed the Story Livestream with a guest appearance from Keith Kanneg, our Lead Producer, to introduce one last surprise!
Game Update 7.0, “Legacy of the Sith,” launches free to all subscribers on December 14th, 2021! Keep an eye on our social platforms and website for more Legacy of the Sith updates at www.swtor.com/LegacyoftheSith.
Hello everyone, this is Voltenyne from the Community team!
Over the past few weeks, we revisited the lyrics for the theme songs of each expansion as we prepare ourselves for Endwalker. In this final blog of our lyrical journey, we present to you the lyrics of "Endwalker - Footfalls!"
To clarify, there are two versions of "Endwalker." "Endwalker" is the version of the song that focuses on the new melody composed for Endwalker. "Endwalker - Footfalls" is the full version of the song that was used in the full trailer.
Both versions of the main theme will be made available on Wednesday, November 17 as a 7-inch vinyl single (along with a download code for the MP3 version) so be sure to check it out!
Before we move on, here's a comment from Lead Story Designer Natsuko Ishikawa, who proposed the original lyrics!
＊＊＊＊＊＊
As hinted by the inclusion of "Footfalls" in the title, this song traces our steps and is a key in gaining a better understanding of the tracks in Endwalker. Combine its melody with the various tracks you'll hear throughout your adventures, and perhaps you'll discover the true form of each song.
I hope your journey to uncover the truth will be an enjoyable one till the very end.
Natsuko Ishikawa, Lead Story Designer
＊＊＊＊＊＊
FINAL FANTASY XIV: ENDWALKER Full Trailer
Endwalker - Footfalls
Heart of ember, autumntide
Cooling swiftly, bleeding light
Smold'ring softly, biding time
Marching forward, left behind
Fire as shadows clash
Forgotten footfalls engraved in ash
Fire will be repaid
'Fore our echoes begin to fade
Fade away... Fade away...
Heart of ember, autumntide
Burning brightly, hot and white
Kindred severed neverwhere
Sorrow's silence, we needn't bear
Stories sown along the way
Tales of loss and fire and faith
Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
Rohs an kyn ala na [All my brothers wake]
Mah morn [Death comes]
Dys an sohm in [Our slumber disturbed]
Sahl djahs afah an [Vengeance will be ours]
Storm of blood, born from blood, of our fallen brothers
Thunder stilled, oaths fulfilled, now we yearn for freedom
Born in blood (still we forge ahead), stained in red (unto tomorrow)
Bound by love (so we forge ahead), purpose fed (unto tomorrow, bring us tomorrow)
Courage thrives (ever forge ahead), hand in hand (unto tomorrow, welcome tomorrow)
Souls aligned (that we forge ahead), forge ahead (yeah, we forge ahead, yeah, we forge ahead)
Forward
Our song of hope, she dances on the wind higher, oh higher
E'er our vows endure, and remain forever strong
Standing tall in the dark do we carry on
On wings of hope, you rise up through the night higher, oh higher
Carrying our song, cradled fast within your arms
That its chorus might ring for all
One brings shadow, one brings light
Two-toned echoes tumbling through time
Tumbling down to the never
Every step we take
Echoes in our wake
Winding 'round our fate
To forge ahead
Should we lose our way
Tire of all this pain
We won't be afraid
To forge ahead
Fearless hearts ablaze (When the world comes crumbling down)
No more time to waste (Know I'll be there)
No, it's not too late (Though our fleeting moment has gone)
To forge ahead (You're not--you're not alone YEAH)
As we ride again (As you turn your eyes to the stars)
To another end (Oh, I'll be there)
Where it all begins (With my chorus guiding you)
Forge ahead (Forge ahead)
＊＊＊＊＊＊
Thanks for joining me for this final step in our lyrical journey!
If you missed our journeys from previous weeks, be sure to check them out below!
・ A Realm Reborn
・ Heavensward
・ Stormblood
・ Shadowbringers
Now we're fully prepared to experience Endwalker!
See you on the moon!
In this post, I want to briefly discuss my own personal journey of building my confidence as an engineer and as an undergrad student who had the privilege to intern at Bungie this past summer.
It’s been nearly fourteen years since Commander Shepard first boarded the Normandy. Fourteen years since the opening of a huge new universe for players to explore. Fourteen years since “Ashley or Kaidan?” (But if you ask longtime BioWare vets Mac Walters and Mike Gamble, they choose neither, opting instead for Garrus and Liara respectively. Can you blame them?)
Fourteen years can seem like ages, but it can also seem like barely the blink of an eye. That’s one of the reasons we celebrate N7 Day: to pause and take stock; to take a moment to appreciate all things Mass Effect. And there’s a lot to appreciate! So this year, we’d like to invite you to join us on a Mako ride down memory lane as we look at Mass Effect’s past and present, celebrate the wonderful community that makes it so special (that’s you!), and invite you to join us in the celebration with some special N7 Day surprises below.
A DAY FOR LOOKING BACK
The thing about Mass Effect is that it can be a different game for different people. So much of the series is about the personal decisions each player makes, and how that affects the events that happen later. That is, of course, by design — because that’s what we love about RPGs ourselves!
Take Mac for example, who’s worked on the whole series and was most recently the Project Director for Mass Effect Legendary Edition. “It’s about freedom to choose,” he says. “My character. My story. My playstyle. And, naturally, dealing with all the consequences from those choices.”
And Mike, who’s been on the franchise for over a decade and is now Project Director for the next Mass Effect game, feels similarly…though he’s more about that #renegade life. “What I love most about RPGs,” he says, “is to be as morally abhorrent as possible. I want to see how the game reacts to that!”
That focus on personal choice and branching narrative has been a touchstone of the series since the beginning. Well, OK, maybe not the very beginning. In the earliest days of production, Mac says, “there was just the barest idea of what it would be. We knew we wanted a grand space opera with inspiration from ‘80s dystopian sci-fi films. The rest was a blank slate.”
But the key elements of player choice and character development quickly became a crucial part of the game — and then of three more games, loads of expansions, and a huge remaster, over fourteen exciting years. From the first game’s debut in 2007 through to the release of Mass Effect: Andromeda 10 years later, we’ve watched the Mass Effect universe grow from games into novels, comics, statues — even boardgames. And just this year we returned to the Normandy for a refreshed version of the original trilogy, in the form of Mass Effect Legendary Edition. With massively updated graphics, key control adjustments, important changes to game balance, and a ton of other improvements, the Legendary Edition brought the original trilogy to a whole new generation of players. And the response has been amazing! We’ve been so happy to hear how much these revitalized editions have meant to you, from first-time players to returning veterans.
A DAY FOR LOOKING AROUND
On N7 Day, we celebrate all things Mass Effect — and most importantly, we celebrate you, the fans. This universe wouldn’t be much without you to explore it. You’ve shared with us your love for the series through art, fan fiction, cosplay, and countless other gestures of appreciation that make us feel so grateful, in turn, to have you as fans. So as a token of thanks, we’ll be sharing some of your creations and your celebrations today and in the coming days.
On top of that, we’ve got some other fun stuff lined up for you today. Like…
Steam Stickers! If you’re a Steam user, you may have already noticed the brand-new Mass Effect Stickers available in the Steam store.
Sales! You’ll also find Mass Effect Legendary Edition on sale for a special N7 Day price on Steam, Origin, and the Microsoft Store — but only for a limited time, so get on it.*
Cosplay! Not only do we have brand-new cosplay guides to help you craft the perfect costume, we also enlisted renowned creator Soylent Cosplay to develop a how-to video to walk you step-by-step through one of her legendary Mass Effect costumes.
Contest! Share your best Mass Effect art and get a chance to score sweet loot. Just post on Twitter using the hashtag #BioWareGiveaway for your chance to win.
GIFs! While you weren’t looking, we created a page on Giphy specifically for Mass Effect GIFs. Now the crew of the Normandy can help you say what mere words cannot.
Gear! It wouldn’t be N7 Day without some swanky new accessories. Hit up our own Gear Store for replicas, prints, and apparel; the Dark Horse store for amazing prints; Graph MKT for slick street wear; PowerA for custom controllers, NZXT for the perfect N7 PC case accessory, and Idea Planet for your very own Citadel.
More Social Stuff! Want to share your love for Mass Effect with the world? Try out our new Squadmate AR lens on Facebook and Instagram.
To find the lens:
Visit the @masseffect profile.
Tap the ‘Effects” icon (the three stars), and open the lens
Make sure to use the hashtags #n7day, #N7DayCelebration, #MassEffect, and/or #N7DayArt wherever you post so we can see your contributions!”
We’ve also been super-interested to learn what kind of choices you’ve been making in your own adventures while playing the Legendary Edition. A few months ago we shared some statistics and learned that “Kaidan or Ashley” wasn’t an easy decision for you all either so maybe Mac and Mike were onto something with their choices; 60% of you chose Ashley, while 40% chose Kaidan. For something that makes such an impact through the next two games, that’s a surprisingly close split. We also learned that Garrus was the most likely to survive the Suicide Mission — but Mordin was the least likely. And he thought you cared!
For this year’s celebration, we dove even deeper into how you navigated the branching pathways of the series, and we learned some interesting new details. For example, most of you elected to save the Council at the end of the first game — but at 69% to 31%, it wasn’t exactly a foregone conclusion. We also learned that as beloved as Garrus has been through the years, a surprising 15% of you didn’t recruit him to your team at all! Perhaps less surprisingly, you folks were not fans of Ambassador Udina; given the option to select the first human Councilor, he finished a distant third…behind “no choice.” Ouch.
The results are fascinating across the board, so take a look at the whole lineup:
AND A DAY FOR LOOKING FORWARD
N7 Day has also often been a chance to talk about the future, both for Mass Effect and for the games industry as a whole. This year, looking forward is even more valuable, as we celebrate another N7 Day during a global pandemic that impacts pretty much everything about the industry and the people in it.
“I can’t wait to answer fans’ questions in person!” Mac says. “Whether it’s panels, or signings, or BioWare Base…it’s always fun to just be in the room with the fans and let them ask whatever they want.”
“Meeting franchise fans is always cool,” agrees Mike, “and it’s good to see how the games have impacted people’s lives. Personally though, I miss the cosplay. I remember at San Diego Comic Con a number of years back, how many groups of Mass Effect cosplayers there were. I want to see that continue. And hopefully, we can create new characters that everyone will love and continue the tradition.”
We are, of course, hard at work on the next adventure in the Mass Effect universe. Until then, please accept our most humble thanks to you for accompanying us on this journey. We know we couldn’t do it without you — on N7 Day, or any other day.
**OFFERS MAY VARY OR CHANGE. SEE RETAILER SITE FOR DETAILS.
, on February 15. We’re on the doorstep of a new expansion that will see the players with more combat style choices, a new storyline that returns you to the underwater depths of Manaan and the ruined Sith fortress on the planet Elom, and so much more! It all starts in February, and we’ll have more updates throughout the year. We are extremely proud of having created a game that has been running successfully for ten years now. 
Aren't these kabuto amazing?!
I wish to look as fierce as this man.
