Mass Effect Legendary Edition Finally Brings Co-op Back to PC

In Mass Effect 3’s cooperative mode, four players chose their characters’ races and classes before joining forces against waves of Cerberus troops, geth, Reapers, or Collectors. It was the only way to play alongside friends in the original trilogy, but it was absent from the 2021 remaster, Mass Effect Legendary Edition. At the time, project director Mac Walters explained that the team had prioritized the single-player experience and needed to set limits on the project’s scope. Now, a fan-made mod has brought co-op back.

Legendary Edition Multiplayer is a free release from the ME3Tweaks modding team. Alongside restoring the missing mode, it introduces new content, accessibility options, visual improvements, and bug fixes:

• Choose from three additional heavy weapons—the Reaper Blackstar, Blackstorm, and Cain—or go without one in exchange for more ammunition and greater speed.
• Adjust field of view and aim assist in-game, and use a controller throughout the interface.
• Try two new wave lists: Coalition selects a random enemy faction for each wave, while Unified delivers random enemy waves that scale as the match progresses.
• Check player pings and see who is downed from the pause menu. Teammates’ names also change to shades of red when their shields are depleted.
• Reduce the visual effects of Krogan Rage, Hunter Mode, Bloodlust, and Repair Matrix through Options > Accessibility.
• Explore revised hazard maps: Hazard Giant takes place at night with flashlights, Reactor Hazard’s buttons can be shot to trigger the reactor, and Glacier Hazard’s bees now react to damage from enemies.
• Enjoy fixes for misleading execution messages and enemies passing through closed doors on Reactor Hazard.
• See improved textures and lighting, plus a splash menu highlighting each map.

The mod requires a PC copy of Legendary Edition with an unmodded installation of Mass Effect 3. Its setup involves a few extra steps because it runs separately from the trilogy. According to ME3Tweaks, it does not interact with the original game, keeping settings, saves, and other mods separate.

To install it, download version 10.0 or later of ME3Tweaks Mod Manager, import both the Launcher Mod and the main mod from Nexus Mods, and select “Install LMP.” If you want to import your Mass Effect 3 profile, run Legendary Edition once beforehand to avoid a potential EA App cloud-sync conflict. You can then launch the mod through Steam, the EA App, or Mod Manager.

ME3Tweaks spent months preparing the mod for an N7 Day release. The team has marked the occasion with previous projects, including its 2021 restoration of Pinnacle Station, a combat-focused add-on for the first Mass Effect that was omitted from the remaster after its source code was lost.

More multiplayer content is planned, with at least three additional packs on the way. Among them are Redemption, a collection of remade multiplayer maps, and another pack featuring the Rejection enemy faction.

For now, players can assemble a squad of four, generate an invitation from the pause menu, and see how long they can hold the line. Whether you bring a heavy weapon or trade it for extra ammunition and speed, there are plenty of enemy waves waiting.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is playable on PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X/S. The multiplayer mod is for PC; visit the Legendary Edition Multiplayer page for the latest installation and joining instructions.

Source: Polygon