'Mass Effect Andromeda' news: Detail on new protagonist unearthed

Bioware

Bioware isn't very keen on talking about "Mass Effect Andromeda" so it is up to fans to know what the new title holds. It has long been established that Commander Shepard already hung his spacesuit to give way to a new explorer to helm another intergalactic journey.

Not much is known about who or what type of character will take the mantle. However, eagle-eyed fans may have just unlocked that mystery. Just recently, reports flooded the web about the identity of the upcoming game's protagonist.

Fans love to dissect trailers in a bid to know more about a certain game or film or any other forthcoming project. According to reports, a gamer decided to do such on the "Mass Effect Andromeda" trailer from N7 Day and found a dog tag that bears the name "RYDER" or "RIDER."

This is believed to be the name of Shepard's predecessor and the new captain of the voyage. The moniker is believed to be homage to Sally Ride, the first American woman to set foot in space. This also adds to the possibility that fans may have really found the name of the game lead.

There is also word that the character that Shepard is passing the torch to is, unlike the "Mass Effect" trilogy lead, an untested explorer. That means players will not be experts when they step into the journey and the challenge posed by "Mass Effect Andromeda" comes from being able to evolve into a hero as players progress.

This goes nicely with the vision of creative director Mac Walters, who said last year that the upcoming action role-playing third-person shooter will be "more of a hero's journey: how you become a legend and what it takes to get there."

As what was always said, gamers take on the role of a pathfinder, who along with a group of capable explorers, journey into the deep, uncharted regions of space. "Mass Effect Andromeda" will be released for the PS4, Xbox One and PC in December 2016.