Most of Mass Effect 3’s post-launch content, if not, all of it, has leaked before release. From additional maps, modes, weapons and playable characters for the game’s four-player co-op mode, and the premises and locations for the story-based DLC. For the next DLC, likely titled the “Reckoning Multiplayer Expansion,” (Kingdoms of Amalur reference?) it’s going to be adding more than just new maps and toys to play with, but it could be adding story-based co-op.

We knew something big was coming ever since Designer Josh Hendricks took to the BioWare forums to explain that BioWare was going all out on developing the next DLC:

The latest information comes from user TSA 383 on the Clever Noob forums who took a look at the code (and shared it) that came with the latest (and very minor) title update that only addressed the following:

Fixed a multiplayer issue where users could have all of their weapons use rocket ammunition. Fixed an issue with high memory usage when initializing DLCs.

And what was discovered is that the name of the DLC will be “Reckoning” and what it will add is co-op story missions, something fans of co-op desired since the announcement of the franchise’s inclusion of multiplayer. Co-op story missions explain the need to bring “all hands on deck” when it came to BioWare’s writing staff and it’s very telling of what we can expect from the in-development Mass Effect 4, a game that Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series Casey Hudson is looking for fan input on.

There’s no word on pricing but since it is multiplayer-focused, even though this one’s story-based, we expect it to release for free to get more users back into the game. It’s monetized by the additional reinforcement packs which are available via microtransactions and in-game credits. If this proves to be the last DLC pack, it’s definitely the way to go out, and it would offer a nice end to added content that very much formed based on reactions and desires of the fanbase, so good on BioWare.

For players still playing  Mass Effect 3 or looking to get back in before the DLC drops, this weekend’s Mass Effect 3 multiplayer event just began moments ago and runs until late Super Bowl Sunday night/early Monday morning.

Are you happy to see BioWare continuing support for Mass Effect 3 nearly a year after release and does it make up for its shortcomings? Are you hoping to see these features come standard in Mass Effect 4 which could release as early as next fall?

Event Description: The Reapers have changed their tactics in an effort to prevent us from whittling them down. As they conquer rural areas, their fighting groups are fewer but larger, making them more difficult to assail. Accordingly, we are hitting them in the cities to deliver as much damage as possible before evacuation.

Squad Goal: Earn the “Killstreak 3” squad medal. (As a squad, kill 5 enemies together 3 separate times.)

Reward: Commendation Pack

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Sources: BioWare, Eurogamer