Four Mass Effect novels will lead into the story of Andromeda

Among the few things we know about Mass Effect: Andromeda is that it will take place a long time after the cataclysmic conclusion of Mass Effect 3, and be set in an entirely different galaxy. Helping to bridge that yawning narrative chasm will be four novels published by Titan Books, the first of which is scheduled to come out in just a couple of months. 

“While earlier Mass Effect games focused on the defense of the Milky Way galaxy, with humans pitted against a race of ruthless mechanical invaders known as the Reapers, the new story will take the game in a dramatic new direction and is set in a new region of space, with a new and deadly enemy,” Titan said in its April 2016 Fiction Rights Guide. “The novels will act as prequel and sequels to the events in the games and will become part of the overarching Mass Effect saga. They will focus on key characters and answer the many questions fans have been asking.” 

The first novel in the series is being written by Hugo and Nebula-nominated author N.K. Jemisin. There's a bit of confusion about the title—the announcement calls it Mass Effect: Andromeda Initiative, while the attached image of the cover says Andromeda Initiation—but either way, it's set for an August 2016 release. The second and third novels, slated for March and September 2017, don't have author credits, but the fourth and final will be penned by Mac Walters, the creative director of the Mass Effect series and lead writer of Mass Effect 3.   

Thanks, Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

Latest in Mass Effect
Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect's Jennifer Hale, who played femshep, 'saw no line' before she recorded them for Bioware's flagship trilogy: 'It was all cold reading on the spot'
Mark Darrah
BioWare veteran calls out the 'cruelty' of fans celebrating layoffs: 'You are crossing a line, and you're probably attacking the wrong person anyway'
Mass Effect 3 didn't have music like Vigil or Suicide Mission because composer Jack Wall had a spat with Casey Hudson: 'Casey was not particularly happy with me at the end'
Mass Effect Legendary Edition best settings
Bioware's exceptional Mass Effect Legendary Edition is going for a song, so bag 3 of the best action-RPGs ever made for a mere 4 dollars
Mass Effect protagonist in N7 armor on a space background
Amazon's Mass Effect TV show now in 'active development' from the writer of F9: The Fast Saga (the one where a car goes to space)
Commander Shepherd, Garrus, Wrex, Tali, and Liara on the cover of the board game Mass Effect: Priority Hagalaz.
The Mass Effect board game is basically a new sidequest for a 12 year old RPG, but it's sadly lacking in BioWare magic
Latest in News
Team Fortress Spy being shocked
An FPS studio pulled its game from Steam after it got caught linking to malware disguised as a demo, but the dev insists it was actually the victim of a labyrinthine conspiracy
Neighbors Suburban Warfare screenshot a child aims a slingshot at a man from across a cul-de-sac.
A beta of backyard FPS Neighbors: Suburban Warfare is out now, and the balance discussion is hysterical: nerf trash can lids and children
Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer still - woman in the front seat of a car, looking out the back window while holding a wad of cash
The specter of a GTA 6 delay haunts the games industry: 'Some companies are going to tank' if they guess wrong, says analyst
Screenshot from Wreckfest 2
Wreckfest 2 has hit early access for your car-obliterating combat racing enjoyment
Alma, the handler from Monster Hunter Wilds, closes her eyes and looks a little disappointed.
Monster Hunter director joined an online hunt, carted first: 'I feel bad about that'
Image for
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’s getting a new roguelite wave defense mode that sounds a whole lot like a souped-up take on Killing Floor