ME3 "a beginning and a conclusion"

Mass Effect 3 is the final chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy, but it does not mark the end of the Mass Effect franchise.

Maker BioWare told Eurogamer there's more Mass Effect in the works.

"This is not the end of the Mass Effect franchise by any means," BioWare boss Ray Muzyka said.

"We have more things planned. We're laser-focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is awesome and epic and intense on a galactic scale, and we want to provide a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy."

In Mass Effect 3, Commander Shepard faces off against giant alien race the Reapers, who have invaded the earth.

It marks the culmination of a story arc that began in 2007 with Mass Effect.

"But also it's a beginning on a brand new adventure," Muzyka continued. "The galaxy is at war. It's a beginning as well as a conclusion."

BioWare and publisher EA are keen to expand the Mass Effect audience with the third game.

Voice recognition has been implemented to support motion-sensing add-on Kinect, while the scope has been expanded and combat improved.

"Mass Effect has a fairly complicated combat system," EA Games label boss Frank Gibeau told Eurogamer last week. "You've got story and choice. For some fans that don't buy 12 games a year and maybe buy two or three, some of those things can be intimidating. We wanted to open up the accessibility without hurting the depth or the quality. Kinect is a fantastic technology that allows us to do that."

We've heard that Mass Effect 3 also has four-player co-op.