Mass Effect 3 gets super leaky: story files trickle out of BioWare, acci-demo caught on video

by Ben Gilbert on Nov 7th 2011 11:13AM

"We are still investigating, but it appears that some internal story files have been leaked," Mass Effect 3 producer Jesse Houston admitted on the company's forums. Apparently said story files aren't representative of "the final story experience," but Houston's urging fans nonetheless to skip reading them, "if they want to experience the purest form of the story in Mass Effect 3."

Perhaps even crazier in ME3 leak news, the game's private beta became notably public for people participating in the preview for the upcoming Dashboard reboot, with an approximately 13 minute video running through the entire thing. It kinda, sorta contains some light spoilers, but it's nothing you haven't already heard about in preview coverage (the beta is identical content to what we've seen of ME3 in various press events, minus co-op). As previously noted, the leaked beta is missing a variety of major technical aspects (animation issues, missing sound), so it's not the best representative of the game's final product, but it is a chance to see some early Husk murder. And boy do we like Husk murders!

[Thanks Sang!]

Source: BioWare forums, YouTube

Tags: bioware, ea, ea-bioware, electronic-arts, jesse-houston, leak, leaks, mass-effect-3, microsoft, pc, playstation, ps3, spoilers, xbox

Reader Comments (38)

Must... not.. click.. spoilers...

Even more reason to go full media blackout.

Caannn't...fiiightt...thhee...urrrrgggeeeeeeeeeeee

Kinda late to this story

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-10044-Mass-Effect-3-Demo-Leaks-For-Xbox-Live-Dashboard-Preview-Users-[Updated].html

@Doctalen They ran the story about the beta leak on Friday night. It was posted while I was playing the beta, so I'd say that was pretty timely.

@Doctalen
No they aren't they posted about it the same date it happened, this is a follow up story.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/rumor-mass-effect-3-private-beta-live-now-for-some-xbox-live-us/

@Wompdevil Ah ok. My mistake

@Doctalen This is about the story that was leaked (an early manuscript of the entire plot including info on characters, Cerberus, reapers, and engldgame choices was leaked). Basically the entire plot. So there were two leaks, really. The beta and the story text.

This may sound like a serious noob question, but how will I know when my LIVE Update Beta kicks in? Does it send me an email? Will it auto-update my Xbox at some point?

I signed up Friday, if that helps.

@baby sea tuna If you've completed all the sign-up steps then you will just turn on your Xbox at some point and be prompted to update.

@louiedog

Oh, so I guess I really will have to wait 3-5 Business Days. :(

Thanks!

@baby sea tuna
You won't get in. They stopped taking sign-ups a couple weeks ago.

@baby sea tuna

Have you gone back to the connect site and downloaded the beta app? (theres a code that the site gives you to enter into your 360).

@ungeheier

Yeah, I entered the code and d/l'd the client, but I didn't get an "update." The connect site said 3-5 business days.

@baby sea tuna

If you see the preview channel, you're as "in" as you can be at this moment. There's been no official word as to when the dashboard will drop for the previewers.

@baby sea tuna
I'm sure it'll happen within the next couple of days, considering the public update is only a few weeks away.

Yeah, I got a spam email this morning with MASS EFFECT3 spoilers. It mentioned it taking place in the future, in Space, and sending money to help some Nigerian Prince and whatnot. I'm not that eager to know what happens, so I just forwarded it off to 15 other friends with the retort that if they don't forward it to 30 others, BioWare will force them to listen to a Gilbert Gottfried-voiced Shepard for the third title.

Loose lips destroy the Normandy.

@foxhound

Honestly, I wouldn't mind an alternate voice for Shepard, and who wouldn't like to listen to Gilbert Gottfried as he deals with the Reaper invasion?

Well, according to what I've seen, Origin is being used to potentially monitor that stupid "Galactic Readiness" crap.

Also, online classes are race-locked from what I've seen, so again... unexciting.

@DevilSei - "Well, according to what I've seen, Origin is being used to potentially monitor that stupid "Galactic Readiness" crap."

Well, considering every EA online game on every current platform requires you to have an EA Origin account, I don't really see that as being noteworthy.

I am holding onto hope that different races are unlockable, seeing as all of them can be biotic.

I've never owned MassEffect, but I think I'll get this one. It looks pretty cool. Any chance of a Dead Space collabo?

I get super leaky about Mass Effect news.

I need to forget this news. Someone pass me some alcohol quick.

That's right. Leave it to Microsoft. This is happening more and more. Notice that it never leaked on PS3. Gears of War 3 was also stollen and pirated on PC's. Sony have gotten much better at keeping a handle on their games as if you watch the bonus features for Uncharted 3, Sony made sure things didn't leak that shouldn't have and was made clear to the testers, etc. The Xbox 360's numbers are no longer an excuse as to being the cause as the PS3's numbers are only 2 million behind Microsoft's. Microsoft are really getting careless and need to start getting their act together then.

The only explanation for this is that Microsoft are doing it on purpose to draw attention to the Xbox 360. If I were BioWare in this case, whom had been working with Microsoft exclusively for as many years, I'd be pissed!

@neoXmahi

You do realize that all of this is the result of internal errors at BioWare and have nothing to do with Microsoft?

Take off your tin foil hat and put you cc info on PSN at let us know how that works out for you

@OnToGloryReturns

BioWare confirmed it's Microsoft's fault:

http://kotaku.com/5856758/bioware-responds-to-mass-effect-betas-leak-on-xbox-live

There's a lot of leaks on XBL lately.

@Ballistic H Thanks man!

@neoXmahi Just like when people were able to crack the MK9 demo on PSN and discover all of the games text files, playable characters, endings, stages, etc?

Yep. Never happened with Sony.

@OnToGloryReturns So uh, foil hat huh? Thanks Ballistic H. Also, have you ever read the previous articles in which the title is 'Microsoft flipped the wrong switch?'

Microsoft are getting careless. This is the company that's been so recognized as having the most secure online service. They attacked Sony for hacks when Major Nelson's account was hacked along with other Xbox Live accounts, and they say Microsoft has a justified $60/yr. fee for their service when PSN is comparable. I never get booted for games where I've been booted before on several Live games. Microsoft just knows how to advertise and make themselves seem like the hero and blameless for whatever.

But look man, you don't have to worry. BioWare isn't going anywhere. Microsoft screwed up but, BioWare aren't going to stop giving them all this DLC. Sony can stand on the top of a mountain and yell, "We haven't done anything to offend" or stay quiet, and Microsoft will still suck up all the glory. So, you're ok. Your precious 360 will still win.

@nerdquest I never said it never happened. I said lately Microsoft have been getting careless. I'm talking recently. September, Gears of War 3 was hacked and stolen. Way to provide security there.

@OnToGloryReturns
How would this be the fault of BioWare?

Microsoft controls what is placed up for download on Xbox Live, not BioWare.

@neoXmahi

Atleast XBLA doesn't get hacked and thousands of account info stolen. Who'd that happen to again? Oh yeah. Sony.

@OnToGloryReturns

Yeah, apparently I was wrong on that one. Your argument is still completely stupid though that MS is "doing it on purpose to draw attention to the 360" so my tin foil hat assertion still stands.

Bottom line is that the PSN was hacked on an epic scale and they've still done nothing to alleviate the glacial dl times for their updates. Live is still a vastly superior product by any estimation.

Video's gone now. :(

'e' Rating - LOL.

Microsoft messes up with the publishers, sony messes up with the users. I'll take microsoft

Viral marketing? How do you blunder this so badly?:P

Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 gets super leaky: story files trickle out of BioWare, acci-demo caught on video

Reader Comments (38)

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:21AM Cavall said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:22AM Korbie said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:23AM Getchow hands out my fries said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:23AM Doctalen said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:25AM louiedog said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:33AM Wompdevil said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:00PM Doctalen said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 2:34PM mangosango said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:25AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:43AM louiedog said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:47AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:52AM You Mad said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:56AM ungeheier said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:53PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:19PM docalien said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:25PM SpaceGhostFlyer said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:25AM foxhound said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:29AM DevilSei said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:27AM DevilSei said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:10PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:48AM Korbie said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 11:56AM Fugaku said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:05PM Dirty said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:14PM Cap Morgan said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:55PM neoXmahi said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:12PM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:24PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:28PM neoXmahi said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:32PM nerdquest said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:33PM neoXmahi said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:35PM neoXmahi said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:36PM SpaceGhostFlyer said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 1:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 4:39PM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:57PM TheSecretMe said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 12:58PM KGameLover1 said

Posted: Nov 7th 2011 2:53PM JGGiant915 said

Posted: Nov 8th 2011 2:00AM OrangeGamer said

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