The story of Mass Effect 4 is still being kept in the dark, with the teaser trailer offering little in the way of any concrete details. Despite BioWare working on Dragon Age 4 first, it looks like a new collectible has potentially spoiled the return of a major character from the original Mass Effect trilogy.

If you don’t wish to be spoiled, we recommend turning back after this point. So far, we know that everyone’s favourite Asari Liara T’Soni will likely make an appearance in the next Mass Effect game as she was revealed in the announcement trailer, but she might be joined by another very familiar face: Commander Shepard.

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BioWare has begun selling a new N7 lithograph that may have given us our biggest hint at Commander Shepard’s return in the next entry. As spotted by YouTuber MrHulthen, a changed product description previously stated: “While Shepard and the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, fans are left wondering what’s next.”

The description was quickly changed to: “The threat of the Reapers might have been ended, but at great cost including Earth itself. While the survivors are left to pick up the pieces, fans are left wondering what’s next.”

The return of Commander Shepard would obviously be something that BioWare would want to be kept a secret. Major spoilers for the ending of Mass Effect 3 ahead, but most choices made at the end of the game led to Shepard’s sacrifice. An alternate ending was later added suggesting that Shepard actually survived the finale.

However, it’s not yet known if BioWare will opt to make this bonus ending canon or not. The Mass Effect series is known for its decision-making and multiple choices leading to several outcomes. We don’t know how they might explain Shepard’s return in the next game without making the bonus ending the “canon” choice, so this leak comes as a bit of a surprise.

Mass Effect 4 is currently in development.

Source: MrHulthen