Despite the recent BioWare buyout by Electronic Arts, gamers are assured that the oh-so-very anticipated sci-fi RPG Mass Effect will not suffer as a result and is still 100% on track for a November 20th release. Unlike EA’s usual traditions, the game will also remain a Xbox 360-exclusive since Microsoft Game Studios has the exclusive publishing rights.

Mass Effect was always intended to be the first game in a trilogy and BioWare has stated on several occasions that the franchise will start and finish on Xbox 360. But now with EA in the picture, who knows. I’m having a hard time thinking of a scenario where EA won’t take advantage of the success that Mass Effect will obviously become. Even if they can’t release Mass Effect on other systems, it’s entirely possible that while BioWare will continue to work on the 2nd and 3rd game exclusively for the 360, EA will put their own people on the other versions. The same thing happened with The Orange Box - despite Valve co-founder Gabe Newell’s obvious hatred towards the PS3, EA is developing the PS3 version themselves.

[See also: Mass Effect gallery]