We’re just four months into 2013 and already the rumour mill about the latest instalment in BioWare’s space opera franchise has started churning. It’s recently been confirmed that a fourth Mass Effect game is now in development at BioWare’s studios in Montreal.

However, details such as what it will be called and when it will be set in the franchise’s timeline are completely up in the air.

“To call the next game Mass Effect 4 or ME4 is doing it a disservice and seems to cause a lot of confusion here,” BioWare community manager Chris Priestly said.

“We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her. That is the only detail you have on the game. I see people saying 'well, they'll have to pick a canon ending'. No, because the game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know. Or yaddayaddayadda.”

Mass Effect 4: Release date and Formats

There’s no release date for the new Mass Effect game as yet although given the spacing between releases, it’s probable the game will arrive sometime in 2014.

It’s also more than likely the game will launch for the PS4 and Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console when it eventually pitches up. It’s also likely to appear on PC.

Mass Effect 4: Engine

At a recent Battlefield 4 event in Sweden, DICE showed off gameplay footage from its fortcoming miliary shooter running on the Frostbite 3 Engine. The developer said that the Frostbite 3 Engine would also be the most licensed gameplay engine within EA.

Late in March, BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn then confirmed via his twitter account that Mass Effect 4 will be running on Frostbite 3.

"We're using Frostbite 3 for both DA3 and the next Mass Effect. Different games but same engine fundamentals," Flynn tweeted.

Original Story: (WARNING: CONTAINS MASS EFFECT 1, 2 & 3 SPOILERS)

Earlier this year, gamers saw the epic storyline of one of the game's industry's most beloved franchises draw to a close. Mass Effect 3 finally brought the curtain down on Commander Shepherd and his (or her, depending on your preference) battle with a race of sentient spaceships known as the Reavers, who were intent on wiping out all life in the known universe. Over three games, which managed to weave players' individual choices seamlessly into a winding narrative, Mass Effect established itself as one of the best series of RPG videogames on this generation of consoles.

That having been said, the ending of Mass Effect 3 wasn't to everyone's liking. To be blunt, there was a large section of the Mass Effect faithful who absolutely loathed how Shepherd's quest ended. Some of them even voiced their anger by starting an online petition demanding that BioWare change it. The Montreal-based developer eventually capitulated and released an extended cut, which attempted to explain some loose end, but there remained a segment of the Mass Effect audience who were dissatisfied.

While Mass Effect 3 may be done and dusted, both BioWare and EA show no signs of putting the series on hiatus. In fact, news of a sequel, Mass Effect 4 has started making the rounds.

Mass Effect 4: Plot & Characters

At this stage, BioWare is being very sketchy about Mass Effect 4, although they have certainly confirmed that a new game in the series will be going into production. However, one thing is certain: the new Mass effect game will not feature Commander Shepherd.

BioWare Montreal producer Fabrice Condominas confirmed in an interview with VG247 that any new story in the series will not involve Mass Effect's iconic hero.

“There is one thing we are absolutely sure of," said Condominas "there will be no more Shepard, and the trilogy is over.”

“This is really our starting point. Now the Mass Effect universe is vast, and very, very rich. So at this point in time, we don’t even know what kind of time frame we’re going to be in. All we’re doing is more gathering ideas from the teams, gathering feedback to see several things.”

“So first, we don’t want to make ‘Shepard 2′, or Mass Effect 4 with like, ‘oh there’s no more Shepard but you’re a soldier in the universe’. So this will be a very, very different context for sure, and nothing has been decided on the rest.”

So no Shepherd. It may also be worth - given the shenanigans with Mass Effect 3 - if BioWare take some audience feedback to heart, too!

Watch this space for more news, rumours and media as we get it.