The cooperative multiplayer mode for Mass Effect 3, absent from the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition upon its 2021 release, has been remastered and released for PC players by the ME3Tweaks modding group. This project, dubbed Project Milan, began in earnest three years ago with the goal of bringing the beloved multiplayer experience back to a modern audience.
Modder Mgamerz initiated the effort after developing a randomizer mod for Mass Effect 2. The ME3Tweaks group, already experienced in Mass Effect modding, had established a strong foundation that aided in porting the missing mode. "We did Pinnacle Station, so we had a lot of the infrastructure to do it, and I was able to port it," Mgamerz explained, referring to another mod that restored the Pinnacle Station DLC. Initial attempts involved porting multiplayer maps, which, despite looking rough and lacking game modes, demonstrated the feasibility of the project.
The development benefited from improved modding tools for the Legendary Edition compared to the original Mass Effect 3. The ME3Tweaks group also had prior discussions with BioWare regarding making the Legendary Edition more modder-friendly. While not all suggestions could be implemented before launch, BioWare incorporated some changes that facilitated mod development, including providing information on how DLC mounting worked, which was crucial for understanding multiplayer integration.
By November 2023, the team had a functional prototype. "You could pick at least one kit, and the game didn't crash until you got to wave three," Mgamerz recalled. "Enemies would spawn. Audio was totally broken... The shaders were all broken... But you could actually play it, and enemies spawn. You could kill them. You get points."
The mod has evolved beyond a simple restoration, introducing new gameplay modes like Coalition, which cycles through different enemy factions, and Unified, which combines enemies from all groups. The progression system, which originally relied on loot boxes for unlocks, has been retained but with added flexibility. Players can choose to engage with the full grind, start with significant in-game credits, or receive one of each item to bypass the initial unlock phase.
A direct store for purchasing items with credits is planned but will not be available at launch. The mod also adds new unlockable banners featuring imagery from the canceled Mass Effect: Universe. Crucially, the mod operates independently of BioWare's servers, allowing players to host their own private servers. This self-sufficiency has taken on added significance following the closure of BioWare's N7HQ website, raising concerns about the future of the original Mass Effect 3 multiplayer servers.
Mgamerz expressed complex feelings about the project's emergent role in game preservation. "When I had an interview for Pinnacle Station, people said the same thing. They asked me, ‘Is this like game preservation to you?’ And I’m like, ‘Not in the sense that I think most people say...’ But, I mean, once it goes away, this is the only way you’ll even be able to experience it."
The ME3Tweaks team did not use AI for asset generation but employed it for researching game files. "I have a tool I made that can research into the game files, but I literally made it so it never can save anything. It can only tell me like findings," Mgamerz stated, detailing how AI assisted in identifying specific game code flags that affected item unlocks. He emphasized that all AI-generated code was thoroughly reviewed.
The mod's release on N7 Day, a fan-celebrated day for the Mass Effect series, is expected to draw significant attention, especially in light of BioWare's closure. The team acknowledges the potential stress of the launch day influx of players but hopes former BioWare employees will notice their efforts to keep the Mass Effect 3 multiplayer alive.