According to BioWare online development director Fernando Melo, the metrics for Mass Effect 3 show that a smaller percentage of gamers finished Mass Effect 3 than Mass Effect 2, after five months of release.
Melo stated that only 42% of the players finished the third game, while over half, 56%, finished Mass Effect 2.
Even at that rate, both of the games enjoyed a higher completion rate than other BioWare titles. Only 40% of the players finished Mass Effect 1, while only 36% of them finished Dragon Age Origins. 41% finished Dragon Age 2.
Why the drop for Mass Effect 3? Was it the controversial ending that warded players from finishing?
Or was it the sheer length of Mass Effect 3? Melo notes that gamers played the same number of hours for both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3.