To this day, the Mass Effect trilogy still sparks passionate discussions and heated debates, showcasing how beloved its characters and worlds still are. The sci-fi RPG's impact on gamers and the industry cannot be denied, especially in how it experimented with player choice and its place in an authored story. As Commander Shepard, we all created our own stories while also being treated to an intense narrative packed with touching and tragic moments spanning three games. Whether you worked to gain each character’s loyalty, created your own romantic love triangles, or used paragon and renegade interrupts to showcase your leadership style, you have your own Shepard tale to tell. BioWare truly achieved something wonderful by making people care deeply about Shepard’s fight to save the galaxy. 

After years of requests, BioWare is finally remastering the trilogy with Mass Effect Legendary Edition, giving fans the opportunity to re-experience Shepard’s story on modern hardware – while also allowing a new crop of gamers to discover what made the series the popular force it is today. For the latest issue of Game Informer, BioWare sat down with us to share how it approached bringing the series to 4K, and no topic was off the table. Find out why some things (like Mass Effect 3's multiplayer) ended up on the cutting-room floor, what swayed the team in the direction of a remaster versus a remake, and how the team approached Mass Effect 1. After all, the first entry needed (and received) the biggest upgrades – and yes, that includes the Mako. 

And that’s only scratching the surface on the behind-the-scenes details. The full cover story dives into BioWare's complicated creative process, detailing the big and promising changes in full. Since this is a trilogy, we have three different covers (pictured below) that pay homage to Shepard, all featuring different beloved squadmates who helped our hero along the way. 

Speaking of upcoming games we’re excited about, this issue is packed with them! We picked 50 games we can’t wait to play and shared what makes us enthusiastic about them. As part of this massive round-up, we have also extended looks at space-combat shooter Chorus and the wild co-op adventure It Takes Two, which comes from Josef Fares, who brought us Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out. 

We also don’t hold back on examining some recent headlines, such as looking back at Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch and breaking down what Lucasfilm’s return to gaming really means. And if you’re a Yakuza fan, you’ll be happy to know associate editor Blake Hester sat down with series mastermind Toshihiro Nagoshi to discuss his life, career, and why Sega should have fired him in the ‘90s. Yes, this issue is quite a read, and that’s not even everything, so look forward to more opinions, reviews, and other surprises when you open it. 

Print subscribers can expect their issues to begin arriving in the coming days/weeks. The digital edition of this issue launches in a few hours for PC/Mac, iOS, and Google Play. You can also get the latest issue through third-party apps on Nook and Kindle. To subscribe to either the digital or print version, click here.

A new month means a new batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass. Beginning this week, subscribers can look forward to playing a JRPG classic, engage in some social deception, or play as a mouse across console, PC, and Android via cloud gaming. You can also check out January's Game Pass additions here.

What's Coming

• Ghost of a Tale (PC) - Feb. 4
• Project Winter (Console, PC, Android) - Feb. 4
• The Falconeer (Console, PC, Android) - Feb. 4
• Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Console, PC) - Feb. 11 (our review)
• Jurassic World Evolution (Console, Android) - Feb. 11 (our review)
• Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones (Console, Android) - Feb. 11
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood (Android) - Feb. 11 (our review)

What's Leaving

• De Blob (Console) - Feb. 15
• Ninja Gaiden II (Console) - Feb. 15
• World of Horror (PC) - Feb. 15
• Shadows of the Damned (EA Play/Console) - Feb. 16

DLC Updates

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood – members can pre-order now and save 10%
• Sea of Thieves: Season One Update – available now
• The Falconeer: The Hunter DLC – February 4

Microsoft also announced the following cloud games now have touch controls on Android:

• Donut County
• Enter The Gungeon
• Fractured Minds
• Monster Sanctuary
• River City Girls
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics
• The Walking Dead: A New Frontier – Episode 1
• The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries
• The Walking Dead: Season Two
• The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season
• Touhou Luna Nights
• What Remains of Edith Finch
• Yes, Your Grace

As always, these games are yours to keep so long as you maintain an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. If you missed the free slate of games available for Xbox Live Gold members this month, you can check out that list here. Finally, if you missed the recent drama surrounding Gold, Microsoft recently came under fire for hiking up the subscription price of Xbox Live Gold before the uproar forced them to reverse that decision only hours later. What do you think of this month's Game Pass offerings? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The Mass Effect Legendary Edition just dropped an explosive new trailer, showing off the remaster's strengths and that it includes over 40 DLC to enjoy. For those that want to become Commander Shepard in real life, we've got just the thing with the recently revealed collector's edition!

The collector's edition comes with not only a replica of Commander Shepard's helmet, but an N7 acceptance letter, art prints, and more. 

So what's included? 

• Includes:
  • 1 Mass Effect Legendary Edition Metal Game Case (Game not included)
  • 1 Morality Spinner Pin
  • 1 N7 Acceptance Letter
  • 2 Canvas Art Prints (Including one you can only find here at the BioWare Gear Store)
  • Comes in a full color custom box featuring the game’s key art

 Let’s go through these collectibles one by one.

N7 Helmet

It’s wearable, beautifully-detailed, faithful to the games… and yes, it lights up, too.

The star of this bundle is undoubtedly the life-sized replica of Shepard’s N7 Breather Helmet. Created with the actual 3D model used in-game and under the direct supervision of Mass Effect’s developers, it’s as authentic and believable as it gets.

It features the helmet’s carbon fiber texture and LED lights that illuminate the visor and the accents on the sides and back. And just like in the game, the choice is yours—are you Paragon Blue or Renegade Red?

And if you want to learn more about the making of the N7 Helmet, check out our article on our blog

FEATURES

• 1:1 scale
• 16 x 9.5 x 11 inches
• Wearable replica of the N7 Breather Helmet
• Detailed design that's faithful to the games
• With adjustable straps to keep it in place
• With LED effects
  • Helmet includes a switch on the inside for choosing between Paragon Blue or Renegade Red
  • Lights illuminate the visor and accents on the sides and back
• Powered by 2x AA batteries (not included)
• Comes with an instruction manual

N7 Acceptance Letter

“Well. What about Shepard?”

Can you see the opening sequence in your head? Shepard aboard the Normandy. Looking at the Earth through a window. Immerse yourself in Shepard’s story before this scene, with a letter from Captain Anderson welcoming you to the N7 corps.

FEATURES

• Dimensions: 8 x 11.5 inches

Morality Spinner Pin

Choosing between Paragon and Renegade is easier said than done. You could be torn between what you think is honorable, and what you think somebody deserves. Ultimately, they are two parts of the same Shepard. That’s what this wearable is all about.

Use it to display your moral alignment. Or choose between order and chaos with the flick of a finger.

FEATURES

• Soft Enamel Spinner Pin
• Diameter: 1.75-inches
• Double-sided
  • Paragon (Blue & White)
  • Renegade (Red & Black)

Metal Game Case

The game itself isn’t part of the Mass Effect Legendary Cache. But if you have it, you can display it in this premium metal game case. And even if you don’t, the art on the case still makes it well worth showing off.

FEATURES

• Metal hard shell
• 5.25 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Design
  • Front:Mass Effect Legendary Edition Key Art
  • Spine:Mass Effect Legendary Edition Logo
  • Back: N7 Logo

PLEASE NOTE: The Mass Effect Legendary Cache does not include the game.

Canvas Art Prints

If you wish to Relive the Legend, then you must have some very fond memories of it. How about we immortalize and put them on display?

The Mass Effect Legendary Cache includes two canvas art prints. One shows your ship, the SSV Normandy flying above the Earth. And the other - which is only available in this BioWare Gear Store Exclusive Version - features the female Commander Shepard with her Omni-Blade and N7 armor.

FEATURES

• Dimensions:
  • Width: 16.25 inches (41.27 cm)
  • Height: 8 inches (20 cm)
• 2 Canvas Art Prints
  • Normandy SR-1
  • FemShep Art Print (BioWare Gear Store Exclusive)

Pre-orders are available now for $149.99 right here.