A day to reflect
N7 Day, always on November 7, is the annual celebration of BioWare’s space opera Mass Effect. Like the game it honors, N7 Day represents hope. Mass Effect has always had underlying themes of hope and ambition in the face of seemingly-insurmountable odds; N7 Day has always been about the hopes and ambitions of whatever Mass Effect game is next.
Not this year, though. This, the 10th N7 Day, is the saddest N7 Day. It’s more of a memorial service than anything. We try to remember Mass Effect at its best rather than how it left us.
To commemorate the day, BioWare has released two new multiplayer characters, produced this retrospective video, and hired six Twitch personalities to stream the games. For the first time in 10 years, there’s nothing to look forward to. For the first time in 10 years, there is no hope.
That’s because Andromeda‘s troubled development and tepid reception led to publisher EA shelving the series for the foreseeable future. This particular N7 Day is a stark reminder that there’s nothing next for Mass Effect — at least not soon. There isn’t any weird concept art or screenshots or teasers or anything to be excited about. Mass Effect and N7 Day live in the past now.
So take this N7 Day to reflect on all the good times and all the exhilarating times. Remember your Shepard and maybe even your Ryder. Remember Mass Effect 2‘s suicide mission. Remember how neat it felt to explore unknown planets. Remember how damn much you loved everyone in your crew.
And hold out hope that Mass Effect eventually comes back stronger than ever.
