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'Mass Effect: Andromeda' release date, latest news: PC version of upcoming game will not be available on Steam

Amee Florence Payno Friday, January 06, 2017

A promotional image for "Mass Effect: Andromeda." | BioWare

The PC version of the highly-anticipated space-faring role-playing game "Mass Effect: Andromeda" will not be made available via Valve's digital distribution platform, Steam.

As confirmed by Bioware's Ian S. Frazier on Twitter, the PC version of the upcoming "Mass Effect" video game will only be digitally distributed on Origin. However, he also confirms plans for a physical, disc-based release of the game.

Even with purchasing the physical disc of the game's PC version, gamers may still need to activate "Mass Effect: Andromeda" through Origin. In response to a follow-up question from a Twitter user who asked if Origin activation of the disc will be required, Frazier answered that he was unsure if the game will be directly accessible on the discs or will be prompting an install through Origin.

According to Game Transfers, the move to make the PC version of the space-faring game an Origin-exclusive is not a surprising move, considering Electronic Arts, the game's publisher, has given other games like "Dragon Age" the same treatment.

In other news, there are reports that Bioware is currently polishing the facial animations in the much-awaited installment to the "Mass Effect" game franchise. According to Gameranx, the effort was initiated after fans have raised their concerns over the limited range of facial movement of the protagonist when it comes to expressing emotions.

It was also previously reported that there are no existing plans at the moment to create versions of "Mass Effect: Andromeda" for the upcoming hybrid console Nintendo Switch as well as the much-awaited Xbox Project Scorpio.

The plot of "Mass Effect: Andromeda" centers on the Pathfinder and its mission to find and lead humanity into a new home somewhere in the unexplored and dangerous space of the Andromeda galaxy. The game is scheduled for release on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 (with PlayStation 4 Pro enhancements and support), and PC sometime this spring.