Mass Effect Andromeda Multiplayer Beta Deemed Unnecessary, Cancelled

In a blog post detailing their PAX East 2017 plans, BioWare revealed that attendees will have a chance to try Mass Effect Andromeda’s co-operative multiplayer on PC and Xbox One at the event, which runs from March 10 to 12. However, they also announced that the planned multiplayer beta has been cancelled:

While we will have live multiplayer at PAX East, there will no longer be a multiplayer tech test for players at home. Thank you to everyone who signed up. We look forward to seeing you in Andromeda.

Asked why they made this decision, BioWare said, “Our team worked extremely hard building, testing & balancing MP, and we determined that a tech test would not be necessary.”

Producer Fernando Melo also explained the cancellation, and gave us a look at the multiplayer character selection screen:

Sorry we won’t have MPTT. I know many were looking forward to it (as were we). Long story but right decision for how close we r to live.

MEA MP has had the most ext user testing we’ve ever done. + GameChangers program. And retail console closed alpha earlier in new year.

MP very alive (& awesome). You’ll see more of it soon incl play it at PAX. And still fully avail on EA/Origin Access ahead of launch.

According to Producer Michael Gamble, the Xbox One version of Mass Effect Andromeda is currently weighing in at 42GB. There will also be a day one patch, but it remains to be seen how big it will be.

Here’s a preview of the exploration trailer coming tomorrow:

Humanity needs a hero to blaze a trail through a new galaxy. Tomorrow you’ll get your first look at exploration in Mass Effect: Andromeda. pic.twitter.com/HahI2LXPrk

— Mass Effect (@masseffect) March 2, 2017

Mass Effect Andromeda releases on March 21 in North America and March 23 in Europe for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

[Source: BioWare (1), (2), Mass Effect, Fernando Melo (1), (2), (3), Michael Gamble]