Original article: November 25, 2009
Apparently Electronic Arts has learned from the mistakes made with the first part of the Mass Effect trilogy. The PC version of Mass Effect 2 will only have a serial code copy protection like Dragon Age: Origins. Online authentication or similar annoying concepts are not planned. The key is supposed to be printed into the manual. Furthermore the number of installations is not limited. But although this is good news, some gamers might be upset by EA's plans to use the system for downloadable content that is known from Dragon Age: Origins.

Mass Effect 2 will be released on January 26, 2009 (North America) respectively January 29, 2009 (Europe) for PC and Xbox 360. Besides the normal edition there will also be a Collector's Edition with several gimmicks like the "Art of Mass Effect 2” book, issue number one of the Mass Effect Redemption comic or unique weapons and armors in the game.

Update: December 1, 2009
Bioware has released four new screenshots of the forthcoming Mass Effect 2. The pictures, which you can find in our gallery below, show Commander Shepard and some of his crew members.

Mass Effect 2: System Requirements
Minimal:
• Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or equivalent AMD CPU
• 1 GB RAM for Windows XP / 2 GB RAM for Windows Vista and Windows 7
• 15 GB disc space
• DirectX 9.0c sound card
• Keyboard / Mouse
• 256 MB (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support). Supported Chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater.
Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 7300, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, and 9300; ATI Radeon HD3200, and HD4350 are below minimum system requirements. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required. Intel and S3 video cards are not officially supported in Mass Effect 2.

Recommended:
• Windows XP SP3 / Windows Vista SP1 / Windows 7
• 2.6+ GHz Core 2 Duo Intel or equivalent AMD CPU
• 2 GB RAM
• ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, or better recommended
• 100% DirectX compatible sound card and drivers (DirectX August 2008)
NOTES: For the best results, make sure you have the latest drivers for your video and audio cards. Laptop or mobile versions of the above supported video cards have not had extensive testing and may have driver or other performance issues. As such, they are not officially supported.

Update: December 14, 2009
A new cinematic teaser for Mass Effect 2 has been released. The video doesn't give away much information, but shows some new material of Commander Shepard and his team. Besides that the teaser announces a full trailer for December 22nd on Xbox Live.

More articles related to Mass Effect 2:
• Mass Effect 2: Collector's Edition and Enemies video
• Mass Effect 2: Release date - New screenshots
• Mass Effect 2: Subject Zero - Sexy screenshots of Shepards new companion