Mass Effect 3 multiplayer confirmed

My understanding of everything about ME3 is that it's going to use the ME2 engine, but it's going to play out more like ME1.

To me it says less work on engines and more work on story and gameplay.

It was hinted that ME3 was supposed to be released later this year, but then it got pushed back to Q1 of 2012, so to me it sounds like they've got something up their sleeves, which is exciting because it means they can focus on making sure the game is perfect.

But then when multi-player rumours start spreading, to me it all makes sense, the push back was to give time to develop a multi-player gameplay element.

To me, this makes sense, from a gamers point of view and a publishers point of view. ME3 is the third and final chapter in a highly successful series of games, Mass Effect games as a whole are CONSTANTLY being played and re-played by the gamers, because of the story, because of the characters, and also the way the game is played and results in multiple endings, which THEN carries out and affects the way the next game is played, making MORE alternate endings... So how it all ties together is anyone's guess.

But what next? If there's no more Mass Effect games in the future, how can the publishers be sure that people are going to continue playing the games? By adding an element to the game that makes the game play develop itself, by adding the unknown and user experience: multi-player.

Now, I have no idea how multi-player is going to be implemented, but I am certain that it's purpose is to keep the series alive and the gamers wanting more. DLC is only a short gap measure, but multi-player makes every gaming experience unique and unpredictable.

This is a wise choice to make, in my opinion, I applaud it, but we'll have to wait to see how it pans out in the bigger picture