Posting on NeoGAF, Bioware's general manager Aaryn Flynn said that although some elements will be similar, the studio's flagship sci-fi and fantasy franchises will both maintain their individuality.
"All of our games are using Frostbite now," writes Flynn. "We've said the next Mass Effect (and our new IP, but I won't expand on that yet) uses some of the technology from DAI. We've been enjoying building larger areas that you can explore with less friction, so that'll be there as well."
Flynn says the next Mass Effect game (which might not actually be called Mass Effect 4, but you know, convenient shorthand and all that) will draw on the franchise's own history, rather than trying to ape Inquisition's success. Hence the return of the mighty Mako transport.
"We had that
So whatever happens with Mass Effect 4, you probably won't be running around harvesting ram meat, or attending masqued balls in fantasy France. The open world structure might remain, but things will definitely be different.
“We’re very proud of what DAI has achieved," admits Flynn, "but that does not set a ‘template’ for what every other game we make needs to be. Each game franchise needs to innovate and improve their experience based on what’s best for it, not just what another game had success with because ‘well that was successful’.”