‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ Release Date, News & Update: Four Of Ryder’s Squadmates Are Introduced; Mac Walters Reveals They Had To Start From Scratch

BioWare's biggest game, "Mass Effect: Andromeda," has finally announced new information about the game's single player characters that will be supporting Ryder into his quest. This is after learning about the new alien race called the Kett and the existence of cultural hubs similar to the Omega and Citadel.

"Mass Effect: Andromeda" Protagonist Will Be Joined By Two Human Companions & Two Alien Characters

BioWare revealed the four characters that will star alongside Ryder in the latest edition of "Mass Effect: Andromeda." According to Eurogamer, Ryder will be accompanied by Liam, Cora, Peebee and Drack. Liam is one of the protagonist's two starting squadmates and, like Ryder, arrived in Andromeda aboard the Hyperion. Cora is the other starting squadmate. Although not much is known about Cora for now, BioWare has heavily included the character in most of its promotional materials.

The choice of starting off with two human companions feels like a deliberate choice on BioWare's part to begin the game; just like the first "Mass Effect" with Shepard, Kaidan and Ashley. The band also features two characters with alien origins. Peebee is an Asari that joins the squad after crossing paths with Ryder early in the storyline and Drack is a Krogan that embarks on a mission involving a lost Krogan ship in one of Ryder's quests.

"Mass Effect: Andromeda" Update: How The Game Was Built

According to Game Informer, BioWare's creative director Mac Walters revealed that the game had to be started from scratch despite having tons of content from the previous "Mass Effect" games. The new hardware and the adoption of a new engine called the Frostbite meant that game developers involved in "Mass Effect: Andromeda" had to create new systems, tools and assets.

According to Walters, the game's main character is intentionally more of a blank slate than Shepard at the beginning of "Mass Effect: Andromeda." The creative director described that the whole universe was new and there was a bit of a disconnect between him and his player character right from the beginning sequences. Having said that, he hopes to create a new environment without forgetting about the previous installments. BioWare's "Mass Effect: Andromeda" will be released March next year.