Mass Effect 4: What Happens After ME3's Destroy Ending (2024)

Fans are excited to see what is in store for Mass Effect 4, from its characters to its plot. Little has been revealed, but promotional materials have given everyone the idea that the new Mass Effect will have far more to do with the original trilogy than Mass Effect: Andromeda. The big question is, how will Mass Effect continue in the Milky Way between the various endings players chose?

Some players have been theorizing that BioWare may be continuing the series off of the Destroy Ending, and there is evidence for this. Concept art has shown a Systems Alliance Mass Relay, which may hint that the relays had to be rebuilt, and Liara walks over a dead Reaper. The Destroy Ending is the only one with the Reapers destroyed. Little is said of what happens after Shepard destroys the Reapers, but what is known and speculated may be important to prepare for Mass Effect 4.

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Mass Effect 3: What The Destroy Ending Did

While the Destroy Ending eliminated the Reapers, it also destroyed the relays and all synthetic lifeforms, such as the geth and EDI. If the player has enough Galactic Readiness, Shepard is shown to have survived all the destruction. The Galactic Readiness actually affected more than Shepard's survival, but also the survival of people in general. If the Galactic Readiness was low, then far more than the Reapers are destroyed. Many people die in the red blast and many buildings fall.

After the blast in the extended cut DLC, a narration done by Admiral Hackett explains that the war is over. He confirms that the relays have been damaged, but the war has proven that the galaxy is strongest when all are working together. The speech is optimistic about the future, mentioning that if they can defeat the Reapers together, then they can likely now accomplish a lot more. He mentions taking time to rebuild all that was destroyed.

Mass Effect 4: After The Destroy Ending

While Admiral Hackett shares some idea of what happens after the Destroy Ending, very little is seen. Other player choices throughout the game are not mentioned, such as whether the Genophage is not cured, or if the Rachni have re-emerged. It is possible that these unmentioned elements could have consequences in Mass Effect 4.

A lot of the post-Destroy Ending seems to be about rebuilding. After all, without Mass Relays, how will anyone travel? As the Catalyst explained to Shepard, a lot of races had some dependence on synthetic life. They may begin rebuilding synthetic life immediately. However, without the Reapers, the cycle of harvesting life is broken. This means there is no stop to how far the galaxy can go in terms of building and growing. While this can be a very good thing, Mass Effect 4 could also reveal its challenges.

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What May Happen In Mass Effect 4 Through The Destroy Ending

While Admiral Hackett's end-game speech is quite optimistic, experience in the game has proven that it can be far easier for the galaxy to be divided, rather than united. With the Reaper threat gone, alliances may fall apart, as they'll think they no longer need each other for survival. To make matters worse, wars may start over a shortage of resources. Resource shortages are a guarantee in the Destroy Ending; as the relays will be gone, halting travel means halting trade. Also, the synthetic life that many once depended on will also be gone and unable to help.

With the Reaper threat having united the galaxy, Mass Effect 4 may show it fall apart all over again when there are no big threats to unite against. However, it is unknown how far into the future this next game will be. Liara can live a very long time, and she is the familiar face shown in the trailer. Another possibility is that without the Reapers after a lot of time has passed, technology will have turned against organics just as the Reapers predicted. Without the Reapers, the galaxy could need to find a new solution.

Possible New Enemies

Destroying the Reapers leaves room for a lot of new issues in the galaxy. A big possibility is the Leviathans from the DLC of the same name. It was revealed that they are the ancient race behind the creation of Reapers. They created an A.I., and that A.I. decide to make Reapers. Before the Reapers were made, the Leviathans ruled the galaxy and enslaved other races. In fact, they were a lot like Reapers in terms of mind control abilities. With the Reapers gone, it is possible they will seek the rule the galaxy again.

It is possible that another race will make the same mistake as the Leviathans and create synthetic race that will seek to kill their creators. With the Reaper threat gone, other horrific creatures from deep space may take their chances with ruling the Milky Way. Of course, there is also the chance that the space races will war among themselves.

Mass Effect 4 is in development.

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