After a long period of watching their PC and Xbox 360 allies from the sidelines, Mass Effect 3 players on PS3 have finally been granted access to BioWare's N7 Bounty Weekends. Starting with today's Operation Exorcist mission, Sony-branded Spectres will be able to partake in the popular multiplayer events, which task Mass Effect 3's online community with completing various objectives for free in-game gear.
Until now, Sony has blocked the N7 Bounty Weekends out of concerns for online security. Today, however, BioWare invoked the spirit of Admiral Hackett on its blog to announce the block has been lifted, writing:
“By now it is no secret that the Reaper War has had its share of logistical SNAFUs. It is to the galaxy’s credit that, when we put out the call for volunteers, we were answered by individuals of every species from Citadel, Traverse, and even Terminus space. Unfortunately, the diversity of equipment sources meant our allies ran into hardware and software incompatibilities.
“These brave men and women have been fighting beside you and, in doing so, have gone above and beyond normal duty. Because their units were not properly tracked, they fought without pay and sometimes without proper training, equipment, even rations. It is a mark of their character that these warriors took the grave task set before us and stuck it out through sheer determination.
“It is time to honor their service. A volunteer task force has fabricated the necessary hardware and is rolling out compatibility software. When these installations are complete, these soldiers will benefit from being properly equipped and combat-ineffective troops will get off the bench. We’ll all have more comrades watching our backs, and we’re now watching theirs.”
The N7 Bounty Weekends, which are now conducted every other weekend, continue with Operation Exorcist. Read the briefing at Mass Effect 3's Operation Exorcist launching soon, then suit up from today at 6pm (PST) until Monday, April 30, at 5am (PST). And God speed, Sony soldiers; your time has come.
