Bioware has confirmed that the highly-anticipated Mass Effect 3 will feature a multiplayer mode for up to four players and will be available for Playstation 3, Xbox360, and PC consoles. Players can customize their characters by choosing from a variety of races and classes and combine their abilities with those of their teammates. The outcome of multiplayer campaigns will directly affect the result of the single player campaign.

The Galaxy at War system, the name for co-op mode, depends on the "Galactic Readiness" level, which measures Commander Shepard's ability to successfully utilize his resources -- people, weapons, supplies, armies --  in the final cataclysmic battle against the Reapers. The system is optional, and players can still obtain the complete ending of the game in single player mode.

More information on the newly announced co-op system can be found on the Bioware developer's forum.