Fresh off of the latest look at Mass Effect: Andromeda at yesterday’s PlayStation Meeting, the official UK PlayStation YouTube channel has posted a video interview with BioWare director Mac Walters, and it should interest those curious about the series’ new lead, Ryder.
It was previously confirmed that the successor to Commander Shepard’s role will once again be a customizable male or female character, but that concept will have a unique twist this time around. Walters elaborated that after choosing a gender for Ryder, the game will incorporate the other version as a non-playable sibling that factors into the plot. Other members of the Ryder family will also appear to some extent, as it was revealed that the N7-clad character showcased in the game’s E3 2015 was the father of both siblings.
Walters also discussed Andromeda‘s increased emphasis on exploration and environmental interactions. Players will be able to scan many more creatures and elements, and the development team is aiming for a greater feeling of freedom, citing previous environments in the series as beautiful, but often off-limits.
Mass Effect: Andromeda is currently scheduled for an early 2017 release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.