Mass Effect 4 Merch May Have Leaked Return Of Major Character

A newly discovered piece of merch for the upcoming Mass Effect 4 may have accidentally hinted at the return of a major character that probably should've stayed gone.

There's still an awful lot we don't know about Mass Effect 4, which isn't surprising given that BioWare has been pretty open about the fact the game is still a seriously long way away. But a piece of merch that was put up online before being swiftly changed suggests that a prominent character from the original trilogy is returning.

A since-deleted item description for a piece of N7 Day artwork teasing Mass Effect 4, as discovered by MrHulthen on YouTube, appeared to confirm that Commander Shepard themself will be returning for the new game.

While the description of the poster on the website now simply states that "Mass Effect will continue", it previously gave an awful lot more away. As detailed in one of MrHulsthen’s videos (near the 0:55 mark), it originally read:

"Shepard’s final quest may have ended the threat of the Reapers but at great cost including Earth itself. While Shepard and the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, fans are left wondering what’s next.

"Mass Effect will continue. And with the sneak peek poster we got from the BioWare team as part of the N7 Day 2021, there is a lot to unpack. From countless theories regarding the setting of the next game to the bewilderment on whether Geth would make a comeback, eagle-eyed fans have a lot to make of this Mass Effect Mysteries from the Future Lithograph.

"A Krogan and its 4-member team walk towards a Geth-shaped crater with a ship that resembles the Normandy with SFX emblazoned on either side."

Given just how starved for information Mass Effect fans are, they were quick to take this poster as confirmation that Shepard is returning, and that Mass Effect 3's Destroy ending is now canon. Whether Shepard would be back as the game's protagonist, or a major NPC in the story, remains to be seen.

But before you get too excited, it's worth noting that Mass Effect 4 director Michael Gamble has since claimed the mention of Shepard in the item's description was a simple mistake, and that it doesn't mean anything. Is that going to stop Mass Effect fans from hoping to see Shepard again? I doubt it. And to be honest, I'd be genuinely surprised if the iconic Commander didn't show up at some point in the new adventure.