Next 'Mass Effect' game won't feature Commander Shepard or 'Shepard-specific' crewmates

The next Mass Effect game won't feature Commander Shepard or any of his or her crewmates, according to the lead writer for the series, Mac Walters. Shepard — playable as a female or male avatar — was the lead character in Mass Effects 1 through 3, and the focus of the galaxy's fight against the monstrous machine Reapers. ...

via Tech News Headlines - Yahoo! News http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2013/10/16/4843218/new-mass-effect-wont-feature-shepard-or-companions