Mass effect 1 DLC cut due to corrupt source code

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is becoming the definitive version of the original Mass Effect trilogy. Apart from multiplayer, Mass Effect Legendary Edition will contain almost every amount of content and DLC, except for one piece of Mass Effect 1 DLC that can be permanently lost. The DLC is Pinnacle Station, an add-on for the first Mass Effect. which was originally released on the Xbox 360 and included a new map and 13 battle scenarios to help players hone their skills. Unfortunately, Mac Walters, project director of the Game Informer Legendary Edition project director, reveals that despite the best efforts of the developers, the DLC’s source code is irreparable.

Word of Pinnacle Station’s source code disaster actually dates back to when the Mass Effect trilogy was released on the PlayStation 3, as in the Legendary Edition, Pinnacle Station was not included in the PS3 trilogy, and by the time the developers released it shared, it was due to source code corruption.

That issue continues today when Walters revealed that attempts to get the DLC in the Legendary Edition ‘were an emotional roller coaster[.]”

Pinnacle Station was actually developed by an external studio called Demiurge. BioWare contacted Demiurge to see if they could get the original Pinnacle Station files from this team in place of BioWare’s files. And although Demiurge found the source code successful, they were also corrupt.

Walters says the only way to get the DLC in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition is if it is made entirely from scratch, which he says is unworkable, because it would basically take us another full six months to do it with the most of the team we have[.]”

“I wish we could do it. Honestly, just because it’s meant to be everything the team ever created brought it back together,” Walters says. “And it was heartbreaking to leave it all on the operating room floor.”

Walters refers strictly to single-player content. Mass Effect 3’s multiplayer mode will also not appear in the Legendary Edition, which Walters tells IGN is ultimately about ‘knowing where to draw the line’.

Walters mentions challenges such as enabling crossplay and bridging in the small number of players still playing the original multiplayer. Finally, Walters says the team needed to focus on creating a definite singles experience.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is now available for pre-order for PS4, Xbox One and PC. It will be forward-compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X, though there will not be a dedicated version for next-generation consoles, and it will include almost everything, even the Extended Cut Ending.

MattTM Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter @lawoftd.