Jennifer Hale and Mark Meer, the voices of the female and male versions of Shepard, answered fan questions in an interview. Meer noted:
I like to think that Shepard lives on in our hearts.
Hale added:
Shepard is alive if you make him that way.
The actress urged fans to contact EA and BioWare with a request to bring back the captain of the Normandy:
We'll be there because we have to be. I would gladly play Shepard again if asked.
Meer supported her:
I agree under any conditions.
The return of Shepard creates plot questions for the developers. Depending on the player's choice in the original trilogy, he may or may not be alive. If the character returns, it will make one of the endings more canonical. Possible solutions include cloning, cryogenics, or events built into the timeline.