Save File Transfer

The Mass Effect series is designed as a trilogy, which allows the player to import their characters from any completed Mass Effect playthrough to subsequent games. This means that several decisions Commander Shepard makes in Mass Effect will carry over and have the potential to impact the story of Mass Effect 2, which in turn will affect Mass Effect 3.

Mechanics
To import save games on the Xbox 360, the game must be being played on the console the saved game was completed on, since it is not possible to transfer the file that Mass Effect 2 imports using the Xbox 360's file management tools (although it is possible when transferring the entire contents of the drive using a transfer cable). As it is possible to transfer regular save files using the Xbox 360's file management tools, the player may choose to transfer a save file right before the final battle and complete it again in order to transfer the completed game file. This will need to be repeated for every playthrough the player wishes to import.

For the PC version, players will use the Mass Effect Configuration Tool to select the .MassEffectSave files they wish to import. These files can easily be transferred between computers, between legitimate versions of the software and pirated versions, and even downloaded from the internet if the player wished they had taken different actions in the original game but do not wish to re-play it.

If a player beat Mass Effect multiple times on a single Shepard, either by saving and re-loading or by new game plus, each "victory" will be a separate Shepard that the player may import to Mass Effect 2. The player need not worry that they are over-writing one of their Shepards, and may review all the major specifications and decisions of a Shepard before they choose to import the file to ensure it is the right file.

Character Transfer
Character Stats and Levels

Due to several gameplay changes, your character's level and abilities will not transfer over to Mass Effect 2. This is explained in-game as being a result of the Lazarus Project. However, the game will acknowledge your character's level and morality and adapt it in ways that map across to the new system as well. The higher the level of the imported character, the greater the bonuses granted upon importing. Importing a level 50 character will grant 2,000 XP (the player starts at level 3), 30,000 credits (on top of the other import bonus), 5,000 Element Zero, 5,000 Iridium, 5,000 Palladium, and 5,000 Platinum. When importing a level 60 character, the following bonuses are granted: 4,000 XP (the player starts at level 5), 150,000 Credits, and 10,000 of each resource.

Character Inventory

Additionally, if the imported character had a large supply of credits, an additional monetary bonus will be supplied.

Character Personal Attributes

Shepard's first name, background (Colonist, Earthborn, or Spacer), and career history (Sole Survivor, War Hero, or Ruthless) cannot be changed. The player, however, may alter the class of their new character, as well as Shepard's appearance. It is worth noting that if the player opts to change the latter, they must start from scratch to re-design their character's look -- one cannot simply change the hair color or nose of the previous character.

Romance
Shepard's romance interest from Mass Effect carries over to Mass Effect 2, as evidenced by a photo of said individual on Shepard's desk in the captain's quarters, and a kiss when the two encounter each other. However, there is no option to engage in any romantic repartee with the love interest, as they are not part of Shepard's squad. Despite this, Shepard is considered to still be in a relationship with that individual, and does not have the option to break up. Shepard my choose to cheat on their Mass Effect love interest with someone from Mass Effect 2.

Major Plot Decisions

 * Rescuing Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams during the Virmire mission
 * The character who was left behind will not appear in any subsequent games in the Mass Effect series, it is a permanent character death.


 * Whether Wrex survived the Virmire: Wrex and the Genophage confrontation
 * If Wrex survived, he returns to Tuchanka and has united all the krogan under Clan Urdnot to combat the genophage and strengthen the krogan. If Wrex is killed, the more traditional Urdnot Wreav becomes the leader of Clan Urdnot, and little changes for the krogan.


 * Whether Shepard spared Rana Thanoptis on Virmire
 * If Rana is spared, Shepard encounters her during Grunt's recruitment mission on Korlus while seeking Okeer. Rana insists her second chance was not put to waste, but Shepard once again has the option to kill her.


 * The fate of the Council during the battle with Sovereign, and the nomination of either Captain Anderson or Donnel Udina to the Council
 * If the Council is saved with Anderson as a representative, Shepard is granted an audience with the Council and is reinstated as a Spectre. All other options will result in no audience with the council, and no Spectre status. If the Council is replaced with an all-human Council, aliens will be bitter against humanity on the Citadel, and Avina will have a fascist streak, repeatedly notifying Shepard that certain inquiries have been forwarded to C-Sec, and to surrender if approached for arrest.


 * Whether Shepard spared Fist on the Citadel
 * If he is spared, Shepard encounters him at Afterlife, where Fist angrily admonishes Shepard for ruining his life and making the effort of harassing him across the galaxy despite him being a small time criminal.


 * Whether the colonists were saved, and Shiala was spared, on Feros
 * If the colonists survived, Shepard encounters a representative of the colonists on Illium who need help extricating themselves from a medical contract. If Shiala was spared, she is the representative.


 * Whether to release or kill the Rachni Queen on Noveria
 * If the Rachni Queen is set free, she will send a message through an asari, on the planet Illium, thanking Shepard for freeing her, with further dialogue ensuing. There is a news report of small scout ships seemingly rachni in design that, when approached, retreat quickly away.


 * Whether Shepard aids Gianna Parasini on Noveria
 * If Shepard aided Gianna, she is found on Illium where she again requests help, and will buy Shepard the promised beer. If a male Shepard aids her, she will additionally give him a kiss. This quest also appears in Mass Effect 2 without an imported save file, but male Shepard will not be able to receive a kiss.


 * Shepard can encourage Garrus to be more renegade or paragon
 * If Paragon, Garrus will have attempted to join C-Sec but lament that he could do little good there in the chaotic aftermath of the attack on the Citadel. If Renegade, Garrus will be confused when Shepard doubts his plan to kill Sidonis.


 * Shepard can complete the personal quest for Tali
 * When first encountering her on Freedom's Progress, mentioning the gift of the geth data can serve to prove Shepard's identity


 * Mordin Solus will reference Captain Kirrahe's "Hold the Line" speech during ship conversation as long as a Mass Effect save is imported

Assignment Decisions
These result merely in e-mail to private terminal or news reports unless noted otherwise.
 * Shepard's resolution of the pre-service history quest
 * Spacer -- Citadel: Old, Unhappy, Far-Off Things
 * Earthborn -- Citadel: Old Friends
 * Colonist -- Citadel: I Remember Me
 * Shepard's choice to aid Sha'ira in Citadel: Asari Consort
 * Shepard's choice to aid Samesh Bhatia in Citadel: Homecoming
 * Shepard's treatment of Conrad Verner in Citadel: The Fan
 * Shepard will run into him on Illium, but the interactions are identical regardless of prior treatment.


 * Shepard's choice to aid Emily Wong in Citadel: Reporter's Request
 * Shepard's choice to aid Chorban in Citadel: Scan the Keepers
 * Shepard's choices while being interviewed by reporter Khalisah Al-Jilani in Citadel: The Fourth Estate
 * This quest occurs in Mass Effect 2 regardless of whether or not you completed it in Mass Effect.


 * Shepard's advice to Rebekah Petrovsky regarding her baby in Citadel: Family Matter
 * Their conversation can be overheard in one of the shops on the Citadel, which differs depending on Shepard's advice. This conversation occurs in Mass Effect 2 without an imported save file.


 * Shepard's interaction with Helena Blake in UNC: Hostile Takeover
 * Shepard will run into her at Afterlife on Omega.


 * Shepard's interaction with Corporal Toombs in UNC: Dead Scientists
 * While Shepard's actions in UNC: Geth Incursions have no effect on Mass Effect 2, hacking geth data files during the mission is necessary to trigger Tali's personal quest, which does have an effect on Mass Effect 2.
 * If the entire string of Cerberus quests (UNC: Missing Marines→UNC: Cerberus→UNC: Hades' Dogs) are completed, you can talk with Miranda about these activities, and will hear news reports about an investigation, which can involve additional testimony from UNC: Dead Scientists depending on how or whether you completed that assignment
 * Shepard's decision in UNC: Hostage
 * Shepard's completion of UNC: Rogue VI
 * This allows for additional dialogue options with EDI and Miranda regarding AIs.


 * A news report will reference the events on UNC: Besieged Base, but regardless of Shepard's choices, will claim the Sirta Foundation never recovered from the attack and will likely be shutting down
 * Shepard's decision to aid Nassana Dantius in UNC: Asari Diplomacy
 * Nassana will be convinced that Shepard is the assassin, as opposed to Thane, and reference her sister's murder.


 * Shepard's choices in Bring Down the Sky (DLC)

Mass Effect 2 → Mass Effect 3
Few details are currently available as to which decisions will have a direct impact on Mass Effect 3. Currently, it is known that Mass Effect 3 will not accept save files where Shepard has died in Mass Effect 2, and that all character deaths during the suicide mission are permanent. In addition, cheating on your Mass Effect love interest in Mass Effect 2 will have consequences for Mass Effect 3.