New Mass Effect 3 co-op DLC uses single-player data

Data regarding an upcoming Mass Effect 3 expansion have surfaced thanks to eagle-eyed data miners who combed the game's recent bug-fixing patch.

This new co-op mode, likely to be released as future DLC, will incorporate players' single-player progress, including Paragon/Renegade points, reputation choices and major decisions made throughout the campaign.

This knowledge was prised out of the patch by Clevernoob forum poster TSA_383, who also found references in the files for new ultra-light shotgun, assault rifle and pistol materials for multiplayer. The recent single-player weapon DLC will also find its way to multiplayer.

The information tallies with the information a Reddit user posted last week, which pegged the title of this DLC as Reckoning.

"The day of reckoning is nigh!" read the description. "The Reckoning Multiplayer Expansion brings six new never before seen co-op story missions to the game and new co-op gameplay modes. It provides four new maps to conquer and hazard variations of the Earth maps. It also enables reinforcement packs that offer new kits for the Salarians, Krogans, humans and Volus. In-game reinforcement packs now include three new weapons (Chakram Launcher, Blood Pack Punisher and Adas Anti-Synthetic Rifle)."

Two Mass Effect 3 screenshots released earlier this week also teased upcoming DLC, and BioWare has already said it is beginning work on a Shepard-free Mass Effect 4.