While the Mass Effect series has been known for allowing players to choose the gender of their main protagonist, during E3 2016, BioWare decided to give us a look at a female protagonist in Mass Effect: Andromeda.
Traditionally, the series has lead their marketing with a male protagonist – Shepard, not FemShep. The change in direction for Andromeda wasn't some random decision, it came from deep within BioWare, where they decided that players didn't need to see a character they "identify with" because they were going to make their own character anyway.
"When we debuted male Shepard back in 2006, 10 years ago, it was a time when we drew inspiration from traditional entertainment marketing," BioWare boss Aaryn Flynn told Eurogamer. "So: 'We need a iconic main character. We need an iconic everything else'.
"But I think the whole industry, us included, have moved beyond that. Our games let you choose your main character, I think everyone gets that nowadays. You don't need to see a character to identify with, in the same way you might on a movie poster. People want to create their own characters, customise them, and we're embracing that."
It didn't really matter what character they show for Andromeda when you'll be making your own. I do, however, request hat you make your character look like Nigel Thornberry.
