Mass Effect 3

 Sales

During March 2012, Mass Effect 3 sold 1.5 million copies for consoles, with 3.5 million shipped for all platforms.[159] According to EA's Q4 results, Mass Effect 3 has grossed over $200 million.[160]

Downloadable content

Mass Effect 3 features a variety of downloadable content (DLC). The first DLC released for the game was a single player pack titled From Ashes, available on the game's release date.[129] It includes an alternate outfit for each squadmate, a mission, a new squadmate, and a new weapon. The second DLC was a multiplayer pack called Resurgence Pack, released on April 10, 2012.[130] It includes new character classes, new weapons, and two new maps. Another multiplayer pack, titled Rebellion Pack, was made available on May 29, 2012. It also contains new character classes, new weapons, and two new maps. The Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut, a DLC pack that features new cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes that expand upon the original ending of Mass Effect 3, was released on June 26, 2012, at no additional cost.[131] Later, another multiplayer pack called Mass Effect 3: Earth was released on July 17, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PC, and Playstation 3 at no cost. It features 3 new maps, 6 new multiplayer characters, 3 new weapons, 12 new weapon mods, 11 new gear upgrades, 1 new match objective, and 1 new difficulty setting.

Combat Combat in Mass Effect 3 is changed and refined from Mass Effect 2, with further emphasis put on third-person perspective aspects to make the game more commercially viable.[37] In a preview of the game for IGN, editor Arthur Gies went so far as to say the game "plays like a shooter" and that "combat-wise, Mass Effect 3 is in an entirely different space [from the first two games]". In an article for bitgamer, Joe Martin gave a conflicting impression, noting that with regard to combat, "not a lot has changed".[38] The series' cover system has been improved so players no longer need to slide into cover and then hop over objects. Players have more options for moving around the battlefield than ever before, including a refined sprint capability, combat rolling, and the use of climbable ladders.[25] Players can also blindfire their weapons from covered positions, and have opportunities to shoot selected armor pieces and limbs off enemies. Verbal orders can be issued to move squad mates and use their powers with the use of Kinect.[32] Moving and shooting, a "suicidal maneuver" in Mass Effect 2, is now a viable option because of a revised melee system.[39] Players are able to execute formidable punches and attacks, and instant melee kills are introduced specific to each class; for example, by holding down the melee button, a soldier Shepard will deliver a killing blow with a tech-blade in his/her wrist armor. Actual, round, conventional grenades are also available. Mass Effect 3 was planned as the most difficult in the series, with increased artificial intelligence to challenge players and increase the sense of reward.[40] Enemies no longer act as individuals as they did in the previous games, instead fighting and supporting each other in units. Enemies include 15-foot (4.6 m) tall Cerberus mechs, assault troopers, and ninja-style shock troops, as well as Reaperized husks of all races and Reaper ships ranging from 500 to 2,000 metres (1,600 to 6,600 ft) long.[41][42] Some changes were made to already-existing class types; for example, Engineers are now able to build turrets.