“Mass Effect 5 Should Embrace Lessons from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Adopt a Bethesda-Style Approach, Says Skyrim Director”

Skyrim’s lead designer and former Bethesda veteran Bruce Nesmith has shared his thoughts on what he hopes to see in the next Mass Effect installment. He believes BioWare could benefit from adopting some strategies from Bethesda’s approach.

“I would hope that they would try to take their lore and create a modern game out of it,” Nesmith mentioned in a recent interview. “One criticism I’ve had about Mass Effect is that it often felt a generation behind. Sure, the characters were compelling and the stories engaging, but the gameplay felt outdated. It just wasn’t up to par.” He suggests that if BioWare could blend its strengths with more contemporary design elements, it could lead to a “fantastic game.”

Nesmith also pointed to Baldur’s Gate 3 as a source of inspiration for Mass Effect. “I think lessons from that game would fit Mass Effect really well,” he added, while also hinting at his own background. “But honestly, they should aim for a more Bethesda-style game.”

He clarified that he doesn’t mean BioWare should completely shift to a first-person sandbox format for Mass Effect 5. Instead, he believes fans are eager for an open-world sci-fi experience that is rich in content.

“Mass Effect players would be thrilled with that. But I’m a former Bethesda guy, so I might lean that way in my suggestions.” There’s nothing wrong with having a soft spot for the classics.

The last update on the next Mass Effect indicated that BioWare was ramping up development by bringing on a production director for the project.