Star Wars: The Old Republic developer Bioware is considering a Mass Effect MMO, says series lead Casey Hudson in an interview. As a concept it's something that the studio believes 'makes sense', even if it hasn't yet figured out the implementation just yet.

'We've been trying to think of a way that makes sense for people to experience Mass Effect with their friends. We haven't yet come up with a way to do that, so we don't have anything to announce at this time. But, obviously, multiplayer is something we want to do more of in the future as a company,' Hudson told Game Informer.

'A lot of people say that they want to see an MMO - that kind of makes sense for this universe. Part of what you're trying to do is save the universe so you can live in it. That's part of the promise for any great IP. It has to be a world worth saving. Mass Effect has that quality to it.'

'If you get rid of the Reapers and win that,' he added, 'wouldn't it be amazing to just live on the Citadel or just take a ship to Omega? That makes sense.'

At the same time, however, Hudson confirmed that Mass Effect 3 will not feature any multiplayer and that such concepts will be held back for later spin-offs.

Instead, Bioware is focusing on expanding the RPG and story mechanics for Mass Effect 3 - skill trees will be larger, weapon mods will return and there will be more than just two endings.

Check out the trailer for Mass Effect 3 below, then let us know your thoughts in the forums.

BioWare's Casey Hudson says that an MMO would suit the Mass Effect universe well.

A multiplayer version of Mass Effect has been a rumored BioWare project for a while, but only just now is the studio starting to admit that something might be in the works. In the latest issue of Game Informer, Mass Effect project director Casey Hudson doesn't confirm any such project, but he says that an MMO would fit the franchise.

"We've been trying to think of a way that makes sense for people to experience Mass Effect with their friends," Hudson said. "We haven't yet come up with a way to do that, so we don't have anything to announce at this time, but obviously multiplayer is something we want to do more of in the future as a company."

Hudson also said that an MMO would "make sense" for the Mass Effect universe. "I think Mass Effect has that quality to it," he added. "If you get rid of the Reapers and win that, wouldn't it be amazing to just live on the Citadel or just take a ship to Omega? That makes sense."

BioWare is already working on Star Wars: The Old Republic, so expecting the studio to have another MMO in development at this time seems like a stretch. However, when Old Republic calms down, perhaps the Mass Effect MMO is up next.

However, that doesn't mean BioWare is ignoring a multiplayer Mass Effect title until an MMO is in the cards. A Call of Duty-style Mass Effect multiplayer title was rumored in late 2010, and still could come to be. Whether it be MMO, shooter, or Mako racing sim, it sounds like BioWare is going to give us multiplayer Mass Effect sometime after Mass Effect 3 is released in 2011.

BioWare’s Casey Hudson says the Mass Effect team is yet to figure out a workable multiplayer premise for the franchise, but sees the attraction of an MMO.

“We’ve been trying to think of a way that makes sense for people to experience Mass Effect with their friends,” the series executive producer told Game Informer as part of the latest issue’s coverage.

“We haven’t yet come up with a way to do that, so we don’t have anything to announce at this time. But, obviously, multiplayer is something we want to do more of in the future as a company.”

Asked about the possibility of an MMO, Hudson admitted he feels the franchise is a good match.

“A lot of people say that they want to see an MMO, I think that kind of makes sense for this universe,” he said.

“Part of what you’re trying to do is save the universe so you can live in it. That’s part of the promise, I think, for any great IP. It has to be a world worth saving…

“I think Mass Effect has that quality to it. If you get rid of the Reapers and win that, wouldn’t it be amazing to just live on the Citadel or just take a ship to Omega? That makes sense.”

Mass Effect 3 is due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 before the end of the year.