'Mass Effect 4' Release Date, News & Trailer: Likely to Get New Characters, Gameplay Features [Rumors]

Is the upcoming "Mass Effect 4" game getting new characters and gameplay features? Mac Walters, creative director of "Mass Effect 4", earlier asked fans what they want to see in the next game installment. He posted on Twitter, "Spring-Forward Poll: What new feature, system or gameplay would you add to the next #MassEffect ?"

Venture Capital Post said many good ideas from fans have popped out when Walters brought up the poll, with some requesting for "more interesting side-guests, lovable characters, galactic mysteries, and realistic universe."

One user named David (@CmdrNinja) said he likes to have a more "personal story" on the next game. Katie Stubbs (‏@katieee120), meanwhile, says he would like to "see more exploration, see a bit more open word-ness, and not be restricted to a section."

Citadel Council PR (‏@CCouncilPR) says he would like to play as an alien. David Burns (@davewburns), on the other hand, requests for a "more robust and varied selection of armors, more open environments, better hair, and space combat." A'koss (@Megin_Akoss) says he would love to see "player-controlled flying cars/shuttles/ships" in the next game.

VC Post said it is likely that the next game installment won't be released this year, following game producer Mike Gamble's statement during the Comic Con in San Diego wherein he said it won't come out "anytime soon."

Not much is known about the upcoming game but International Business Times said there are speculations that a "fresh" protagonist might come along the way. With some saying that the new protagonist won't be another version of Commander Shepard, there are whispers of a new game which would not be a "direct continuation of the Commander's story." His companions would likely not return, the report adds.

Earlier, executive producer Casey Hudson and BioWare's Edmonton and Montreal boss Aaryn Flynn have teased fans on Twitter about the upcoming game. "What's even more fun than working on the design of a new fictional world? Taking our first steps into it and looking around," Hudson tweeted.

"Great time playing the next Mass Effect game in Montreal. Ambitious. Beautiful. Fresh but recognisable. And fun!," Flynn said.

Months ago, we reported that it is likely for the next "Mass Effect" game to come out in 2016, according to a fan named Shinobi602, who predicted that a second quarter 2016 release date is most likely. Shinobi602 also revealed in a Neogaf post that the new "Mass Effect" game would be "massive."

"Massive in terms of size/scale, that's all. Yeah, 'optimistic' but not unlikely or anything, it could very well be ready by Q2 2016, the date's still not set even internally. There were about 50 or so devs on the game around when DAI shipped, that's since quadrupled in number. That new build Gamble was talking about was a big milestone related to that. Doubling down on one single engine (Frostbite) across all the studios is a huge advantage...They're making it the best game it can be, it'll be worth the wait...It's 100% coming next year," said Shinobi602.