Mass Effect: Andromeda introduced several mysteries that went unanswered after Mass Effect went on ice several months after it launched. With the announcement and development of Mass Effect 4, outstanding mysteries from Mass Effect: Andromeda now have a chance at being addressed. One mystery in particular that lay at the heart of Mass Effect: Andromeda was the question of the Andromeda Initiative's Benefactor, a mystery that deepened throughout the game, but went unanswered.
The Benefactor was an individual or group who approached the founder of the Andromeda Initiative, Jien Garson, when she ran out of money, and offered to fund the Initiative. The amount would total to trillions of credits. The Benefactor also recruited Alec Ryder to the Initiative, who was developing a new form of AI. The Benefactor's role became clouded because of their insistence on their anonymity, with the source of their wealth unknown.
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The Benefactor's Role in Mass Effect: Andromeda
During the course of Andromeda, Ryder discovers that one of the Benefactor's agents murdered Garson. The Benefactor was also aware of the Reaper threat before the events of the first Mass Effect game, and was presumably motivated to contribute to the Andromeda Initiative in order to preserve intelligent life in the galaxy.
The Benefactor's key role in the Andromeda Initiative, motivations, and identity all remain a mystery by the conclusion of Mass Effect: Andromeda. Because it's such a key part of Mass Effect's greater lore, not only for Andromeda, but for the Milky Way as well, the Benefactor's identity and goals need to be explored in Mass Effect 4.
Who Might Be Mass Effect: Andromeda's Benefactor?
Theories as to the identity of the Benefactor range from the Illusive Man to the Shadow Broker. It's unlikely to have been the Illusive Man or Cerberus in general because of the organization's focus on humanity, as well as the enormous cost behind the Andromeda Initiative. Despite the ludicrous wealth the Illusive Man had and used in bringing Shepard back to life, it's unlikely he or the organization would have enough money to do both.
The Shadow Broker is also an unlikely candidate, as it's heavily implied that they accompanied the Initiative to Andromeda. This means that, while the Shadow Broker before Liara and the yahg in Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker could have had the resources of the Benefactor, they're dead by the time the Initiative leaves, and neither the yahg Shadow Broker nor Liara accompany the Initiative.
Solving the Mystery of the Benefactor in Mass Effect 4
One of the more likely candidates is the geth. The geth have been known to take an interest in the affairs of organics, were aware of the Reaper threat even before the events of Mass Effect, and would be able to accumulate the resources needed to fund the Initiative. They would also have a reason to be interested in recruiting Alec Ryder because of his AI development. The quarian ark was delayed, giving more indications of possible geth involvement in the Initiative, and it would give more reason to bring back the geth in Mass Effect 4, even after the Destroy ending from Mass Effect 3.
Despite the speculation, it's also likely that the Benefactor is an entirely new character that was planned to be introduced in a DLC or direct sequel to Mass Effect: Andromeda. If this is the case, hopefully these plans will be carried over to Mass Effect 4 so that their identity is revealed. Whoever the Benefactor is, to be able to fund the Initiative means they must have had a great deal of influence on Mass Effect's society, and therefore would have relevance in Mass Effect 4.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 72 /100 Critics Rec: 40%
- Released
- March 1, 2017
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Mass Effect
WHERE TO PLAY
Mass Effect: Andromeda travels deep into the Andromeda Galaxy, far beyond the Milky Way. There, you will lead our fight for a new home in hostile territory where we are the aliens. Take command as the Pathfinder, a leader of a squad of military-trained explorers, with deep progression and customization systems. This is the story of humanity’s next chapter, and your choices throughout the game will ultimately determine our survival in the Andromeda Galaxy. As you unfold the mysteries of the Andromeda Galaxy and the hope for humanity lies on your shoulders, you must ask yourself – how far will you go?
