Mass Effect 2 gets day one PSN release

Triple-A RPG sequel Mass Effect 2 is to break with traditional retail models by releasing both at retail and online simultaneously next week.

Speaking on the US PlayStation blog, BioWare’s community coordinator Chris Priestly confirmed that the game will be available to download on PSN on the same day boxed versions hit the High Street. The digital price has not yet been confirmed, nor has the size of the download.

In addition, Priestly went on to explain the rewards PS3 gamers are in for having had to wait so long for the game’s arrival on Sony’s console.

"PlayStation fans have been asking for Mass Effect for years and we are very pleased to finally be bringing it to a new branch of Mass Effect fans," he explained.

"However, what I think Mass Effect fans on the PS3 will be most appreciative of is that this is not a simple port. The Mass Effect team has taken the time to utilise the PS3 hardware to the fullest in order to maximise your gameplay experience.

"It was also extremely important for the team to make sure playing with the PS3 controller worked and felt good. You will also see that the in-game graphics and cinematics are clearer and more vibrant on the PS3. As an added bonus, the PS3 version includes previously released DLC missions: Overlord, Lair of the Shadow Broker and Kasumi."

Also available from the game’s digital portal the Cerberus Network from day one will be Mass Effect Genesis.

The interactive comic, which is integrated in and around the game’s early levels, is deigned to allow those who never played the first Mass Effect to both catch up on the story and make six key decisions that shaped its narrative, the consequences of which are carried over in the ME2.

Mass Effect 2 will be released in the UK on January 21st.