Mass Effect 4 is likely still quite far away, as BioWare hasn't revealed any real information about the game aside from some minor, vague teasers and promo images. Still, speculation about what Mass Effect 4's story will be like has been running rampant, but there aren't an infinite number of possibilities in this area, mainly due to the restrictions put in place by the previous games.
The biggest question mark surrounding Mass Effect 4 is what it will mean for the ending of Mass Effect 3. At the time of its release, ME3 was meant to be the end of the series, which allowed BioWare to write several different endings, which often contradict one another. With these endings being considered the final word for Mass Effect, messy issues of what might be considered canon were able to be easily avoided, but that's obviously not the case now. Put simply, Mass Effect 4 is going to have to contend with Mass Effect 3's many endings, and no matter which one is canonized, it's going to massively complicate the franchise's narrative.
The Canon Ending of Mass Effect 3 Will Have a Huge Impact On Mass Effect 4
Mass Effect 3's Endings Go Far Beyond Shepard's Fate
Understandably, a lot of discussion surrounding Mass Effect 3's various endings, as they pertain to Mass Effect 4, tends to focus on whether Shepard is alive. However, the implications of each ME3 ending extend beyond just one individual, as they all transform the series' world in different ways. There are technically eight endings to Mass Effect 3, but they can be broken up into four broad categories:
- Destroy Ending: all synthetic life in the galaxy is annihilated; Shepard can survive under specific circumstances
- Control Ending: organic life effectively enslaves the Reapers; Shepard either dies or transforms into an all-powerful AI
- Synthesis Ending: all organic and synthetic life become fused, ushering in a new era of consciousness in the Milky Way
- Refusal Ending: Shepard refuses to choose between the above options; it's implied that the Reapers win after a continued fight with the organic races
None of Mass Effect 3's Endings Allow for a Return to the Status Quo
Part of what makes Mass Effect 3's various endings so memorable is that they are uncompromising; in an era where relentless franchise-building seems to be the norm, Mass Effect 3 ends on a decisive and final note, regardless of which path a player chooses. Naturally, BioWare will try to find a way to keep the Milky Way Mass Effect story going, but it's clear that this decision is going to come with a lot of strings attached.
If Shepard does indeed return in Mass Effect 4, that would mean that the Destroy ending would have to be the canon choice, as it's the only outcome that ensures the commander's survival. However, this would also require Mass Effect 4 to be completely devoid of synthetics, including EDI, the Geth, and possibly even the VIs that most of the Alliance races rely on in their daily life. More importantly, the Destroy ending sees the destruction of the mass effect relays, which are used for faster-than-light travel and are the backbone of galactic civilization.
Needless to say, these narrative elements have serious implications, and the world of Mass Effect 4 would need to be entirely different given the Destroy ending. Things aren't any cleaner with the other endings, either, as Control means ruthless machine enslavement with Shepard as an AI overlord, and Synthesis would mean a transcendent, incomprehensible society. Refusal isn't viable as a canon ending, as it is heavily implied that it results in a Reaper victory. Of course, these complications present exciting narrative possibilities, as long as Mass Effect 4's story doesn't try to walk back or retcon the consequences of the original trilogy.
