Mass Effect: Andromeda's facial animations are still being polished

Probably the most anticipated trailer to appear at last night's Game Awards would be the one for Mass Effect: Andromeda. It showed off combat, character interaction, resource collection and crafting, and the Nomad vehicle, revealing far more of the game than anything we've seen previously. But it also left some viewers a little put off by the not-quite-perfect facial animations and lip-sync.

I didn't notice it when the video first ran, but watching it again I have to agree that Ryder's face is a little bit mushy during her conversation with the seedy port boss. In response to questions from fans, BioWare's Aaryn Flynn and Mac Walters issued assurances that Andromeda is still a work in progress.

@FC_paragon We'll be polishing the game until they take it from our cold, dead hands.December 2, 2016

@ColSolus_616 Gets worked on all the way to the end. But remember, those faces are customizable, not just actor scansDecember 2, 2016

Mass Effect: Andromeda producer Michael Gamble added that BioWare will continue to work on the game "until someone comes and rips it from us. Because we <3 you."

It's understandable that people might expect perfection, or something awfully close to it, in a trailer as big and sweeping as this one. But Mass Effect: Andromeda doesn't even have a release date yet, just a vague window of spring 2017, so there's still time for improvements. It also bears noting that the performance capture we're becoming used to is tough to match in a game where you can customize the faces. Still, more of that polish they speak of would be very welcome.

Thanks, Kotaku.

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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.