BioWare announces big changes with Mass Effect: Andromeda Patch 1.08

Mass Effect: Andromeda has been going through quite a lot of drama since its launch. Fans have been very vocal about their critiques of the same and what they would like to see changed. Thankfully, the team at BioWare have apparently been very receptive to these issues and have tried to be as transparent in possible in what they're going to do to make things better.

It appears Patch 1.08 could be another big step towards righting the ship as it contains a lot of important improvements over not only the base game, but the extended mutliplayer mode as well.

One of the biggest changes is the greater control over customizing protagonist Ryder's appearance in the character creator. Two new head options have been added along with a greater range of available skin tones and a new complexion option. They've also unlocked all the hairstyles for both genders in the game with a bald head option. That's good news for those who took issue with the gender-specific choices.

Those who are already deep into the game don't have to fret because you'll be able to change your character's appearance via a terminal on the Tempest. You'll even be able to keep Alec Ryder's default look if you so desire rather than get creative. 

Another important change is towards the romance feature of the game. Scott Ryder will now have the ability to pursue Jaal, a male character, as a romance option. BioWare explained the inclusion as so:

Scott Ryder did not have a same-sex squadmate available as a romance option, nor could the achievement for completing three romances be achieved with only male same-sex partners. And as the angara have expressed their fluidity in how they perceive gender, it seemed only natural that Scott could have a relationship with Jaal.

This decision was apparently done after much consideration and with the input of the LBGTQ community both outside and inside their studios, with careful modifications made to Jaal's character to have this relationship make sense within the context of the story. 

You can read a full list of the patch notes below, including their experimental approach to HDR technology on PC with Dolby Vision, which is still a relatively rare thing for the platform.

Single player

• Ryder’s appearance can now be changed onboard the Tempest
• Expanded the range of options available in the character creator
• Jaal can now be romanced by Scott Ryder
• Dialogue for Hainly Abrams was adjusted to change the flow of personal information she discusses with Ryder.
• Fixed issue with Nomad upgrades Shield Crafting quest
• Nexus level and cryo pod points are retroactively granted
• Vendors now carry weapon mods for Level 60-71 players
• Vendors now sell weapon augmentations for automatic fire, burst fire, and single-shot fire
• Improved clarity of descriptions for augmentations
• Plasma Charge system now works properly for shotguns
• Beam Emitter augmentation now causes guns to fire a constant beam with scaling damage based on the weapon’s damage per second
• [PC] Added experimental support for Dolby Vision™ technology

Multiplayer

• Stealth Grid challenge now increments properly
• Fiend no longer sprints when within 10 meters of target, and will decelerate to base speed
• Enabled movement correction during Fiend attacks to reduce incidence of players seeing Fiends attacking in the wrong direction
• Improved movement prediction for some enemies in tight spaces to reduce appearance of teleportation
• Fixed issue that prevented melee attacks if the revive icon was near center screen
• Fixed issue where ammo pick-up audio incorrectly played
• Fixed issue where Backlash could malfunction while moving
• Using Stealth and Recon Visor together no longer increases duration of invisibility for Turian Agent
• Fixed issue where weight reduction modifications wouldn’t reduce weight
• The Revive Pack Transmitter now displays the revive radius in the loadout screen
• Equipping the Cobra RPG now interrupts reloading
• Player turns to Adhi when getting synced to avoid teleportation issue
• Fixed issue where enemies would occasionally enter T-pose when hit
• Improved visual and audio cues for player ready status in Multiplayer lobbies
• Added “Lights” option to customization options

Mass Effect: Andromeda is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. For more information, feel free to check out our review of the game. And if you need any assistance navigating the world, we have a guide hub filled with helpful tips for you to indulge in!