Investigating Mass Effect Andromeda's Mysterious Benefactor 

A 40min video about Mass Effect, the perfect way to end the evening

I wish they would make a sequel, not because I liked the game all that much, but because all the unanswered questions(like this) that burn in my mind lol

it's Armistan Banes.... the unresolved plot point from ME1... he was looking for Dark Energy.....

The Benefactor is one of the reasons I need an andromeda Sequel. this had me so intrigued about the initiative as a whole and I love that there's a hidden side to it. Who can it be? Is it a fresh character? Is it someone we saw in the trilogy? I want to know so badly.

Sam being a "Salvation" because he is built up to have a symbiotic nature makes so much sense considering that the benefactor knows about the Reapers and "Symbiosis" is the best solution the Reapers/Catalyst came up with. This would mean the Benefactor knew more about the Reapers before Sovereign essentially explained their existence and purpose. I also think the benefactor might be a Leviathan. First, they created them and have been aware of their timetable since they lived through each and every 50,000 year cycle, which would explain how the benefactor knew about the Reapers imminent arrival. Second, they can control lesser beings. I would imagine that the Andromeda Initiative was merely a test project to see if they can use the lesser species to create ships capable of galactic travel, the Arks, so that the Leviathans could use them to get away and take over another galaxy since the Milky Way was essentially hostile. Third, the Leviathans created the most intelligent AI in the galactic history, the Catalyst. They could have easily provided Alec with the necessary information to finish making SAM. And finally fourth, the Leviathans knew that the Catalyst was merging organics with machines to make Reapers, a faulty but still technical form of Symbiosis. It would explain why they took such an important notice of SAM since Alec was essentially trying to make a Symbiotic AI. This gives weight to the benefactors speech of "a different perspective" 9:57 as they now have the chance to do Symbiosis right using SAM instead of where the Reapers failed.

One of the most captivating aspects of this game's story. Combat is also excellent

I feel like ME Andromeda was a stronger start to a trilogy than ME 1 was but that original title had two things going for it that Andromeda didn't: novelty and a clear, present threat for the ensuing games. The Benefactor and Garsson's death are things I hope gets some resolution in the next Mass Effect. Great video with some solid reasoning.

The AI theory makes perfect sense for multiple reasons. 1st, the fear of an attack: As shown in the Geth story arc, Reapers first target for Indoctrination is often the most powerful AI race they can find in each cycle. But why? Because a fully functioning AI can detect the seemingly random early signs of Reaper activity that come before an invasion on the citadel. Sovereign's pre-invasion planning was almost entirely initially focused on subjugating the Geth, then indoctrinating Saren and presenting the Geth as Sovereign's army. All major factions would and ultimately did assume that the Reaper was Geth technology which kept them distracted and misdirected. Second is the resources issue. An AI doesn't need to "make up" money. As EDI herself indicates she could rapidly destabilize the galactic economy if she chose to, exploiting a wide variety of factors to game all of the galactic market sectors simultaneously. Before long 50 companies are contributing material to the project, none of which realize they are working on behalf of a non-organic being. And that brings me to the following speculation: SAM is the benefactor. Or more specifically, SAM is a fully autonomous subroutine of the Benefactor AI. The reason for the benefactor's interest in Alec Ryder's AI theory was because as an integrated techno-organic being the AI would be less vulnerable to purely digital threats like other AIs. When the Ryders are awake, SAM is in control but unaware that it is sharing space with another personality. But during cryosleep, the Benefactor (which was left running for the entire duration to work on a cure for mama Ryder) had effectively free run of the ship and its organic partner was completely unaware of any actions it might take to secure its position in the Andromeda galaxy - such as tying up the loose end of Jien Garson a year before Alec Ryder could wake up.

What about how the Kett also had a Benefactor? Cause there is a terminal in a Kett base (can't remember where but it I feel like I found it on Voeld possibly during the Moshae rescue mission) with a log from a higher rank Kett talking about how they had a meeting with their benefactor who showed them it's home galaxy and how they can't wait to show them the Kett's home galaxy.

I’m living for these new ME content. No better way to hype up the new one coming out, hoping to hear more about it in the next N7 day

Speaking as someone who is a big fan of Andromeda as well as the original trilogy, I appreciate your video taking the game seriously and not just dumping all over it. I thank you for the interesting video and theory. Might make me replay the game to see what I can come up with!

I'm glad you're looking into this. This is a very good question and worth figuring out both for the Andromeda game and the upcoming Mass Effect game.

I do think the theory you picked as most likely is by far the best one I've ever heard. I hadn't paid much attention to Andromeda since I played it for a couple of hours and left it alone, but I was always fascinated by it. This video was great.

your point on the benefactor being an AI has merit and precedence in the trilogy. In ME1 there's a side quest where you track a signal from a gambling machine that was funneling credits all the way back to an AI that wanted to build a ship for itself to escape the citadel. Now the benefactor can't be that specific AI but another AI could have the means to funnel credits out of somewhere else to fund the initiative.

Its an interesting idea to have an AI be The Benefactor. If so, the catalyst could be that AI, sending a copy of itself to Andromeda, in order to expand its influence in another galaxy. The catalyst, at the end of ME3 does seem to prefer the Synthesis solution, saying that it has tried to get to this previously, but organics weren't ready. SAM and the pathfinder's connection is very close to the Synthesis as the catalyst describes.

I think this would be revisited in ME4.5 along with the dark matter mystery.

I know someone else said It, but I could see it being the council themselves. They just didn't want to openly spark chaos amongst the Milky Way.

Love it. Love the theory. I love andromeda, and have Dove deep into that game. And I also have been leaning more towards that the benefactor could have been an AI of some sort. Part of me feels like it could even be a part of Sam that escaped to the net kind of like how they retconned Skynet in The Terminator series and it essentially funded itself into life, so to speak. I really wish we could get more on this in the future

Literally getting in to bed and was looking for some thing to listen to with tea. Well timed! Thank you

Love the A.I theory...The whole benefactor started out as a great story line. Would have loved to see where it went...maybe some day...doubtful but maybe....

28:27 The Illusive Man is the known title of the leader of Cerberus, who the Alliance have labelled as terrorists. Alex was part of N7, so would have been fighting against Cerberus operatives. The Illusive Man, assuming he _is_ the benefactor has a VERY good reason for not introducing himself as the leader of an organisation who have probably ended the lives of some of Alex's friends and colleagues in the Alliance. Back during the events before ME1 and ME2, Shepard was _literally dead,_ so they had no say in the matter. If you played the Citadel DLC in ME3, you find out there was an additional clone of Shepard, but without the memories of the original, so technically Cerberus had the option to train and deploy the clone if The Illusive Man thought Shepard was too uncontrollable (although since we only learn about the clone in a DLC for ME3, that would technically be a retcon if that had happened).

Having played again recently, I can honestly say it is a damn fine game. Not without it's issues, and over shadowed by the ME that came before it, but worthy of a sequel and then some. Especially given all the unanswered questions it presents.

Given we are getting a new Mass Effect game and it might tie in with Andromeda, maybe we'll get more information about what the Benefactor is.

Great video. I really like the AI Theory for the Benefactor, but I'm going to take it a step further: the Benefactor is a Reformed Reaper. All the points made in the video hold up, and keeping itself hidden (even killing those that are curious) makes sense. It isn't concerned about the timeframe, and it obviously has access to the tech that can help Alec create SAM. Synthesis not only prevents the destruction of organic races, but ALSO prevents the destruction of synthetic races. I could be way off base here, but I agree with the video. I'm really liking this idea.

I always found the fact that the model and more importantly complete design schematics to the under construction Normandy SR2 being on board the Nexus to be one of the more compelling reasons to think that The Benefactor was the Illusive Man and that he merely sent a few underlings to Andromeda while he himself stayed in the Milky Way.

Hope you do more Andromeda videos. This is definitely territory I'm more unfamiliar with. Also please do more horizon.

Great video! Love your stuff, breh!

This is probably the best theory I've heard. Never thought about the need for the benefactor needing to be in andromeda from a storytelling purpose. I've heard the geth being floated before so maybe they turned around whatever they were using to travel when they heard the reapers were defeated.

Being a long time fan of the franchise, I refuse to hate this game. No matter how hard the internet tries it can't make me. It reminds me of the rough start ME1 had. A flawed game with almost limitless series potential. Hope to see the crew of The Tempest back in action. They deserve it.

A video worthy of a cigar and a drink for my "emergency enduction port" Thanks mate, i do enjoy a long video.

The AI theory is good. It does make a lot of sense to me. I don't know if I like it or not. But it does make sense. And I actually like Andromeda. I know it's an unpopular opinion. But it's all subjective anyway.

Since the ark was launched the same year ME2 took place "2185". It's probably the Geth, since they have no use for money, and since Shepard was so relevant to them, it makes sense they would try to preserve humans.

I really like the theory that the benefactor is an AI. The only thing is why kill Garson?

My theory is is that the benefactor is a Jardaan. So why do I think this? Their technology seems to be dark energy based, hence the Scourge as a byproduct from the conflict Khi Tasira, causing them to hide Meridian from their enemies (as stated in-game). Now as we know, the Kett have occupied a prescience in the cluster for the past 70 years prior to the start of the game's story; during which time the Archon (despite being obsessed with Remnant tech for his conquest) can't control the Remnant or the vaults. It's not only until Ryder and his AI arrive, is the first vault accessed and reset the planet back to life substantiating state. Now back in the events of ME2, during Tali's recruitment mission on Haestrom, it's stated that dark energy is making the system's sun unstable and causing it to age more rapidly. Sounds like like rem-tech to me when looking back. BioWare even said that the dark energy plot line was meant to be a much larger plot thread for the overall trilogy story, but was cut; so potentially Jardaan are responsible. We know that advanced beings have forms of observational tech (Protheans, Leviathan, and Reapers all use artifacts to observe and spread influence to lesser species). Perhaps while observing the Milky Way Galaxy (probably in pursuit of more resources, allies, or their own escape, they got wind of the potential Reaper threat and being aware of Ryder Sr's AI project, and the Andromeda Initiative was using Geth tech to researching Andromeda for colonization, they saw an opportunity to bring them to Andromeda with the completed AI "SAM". Seeings how it took over 600 years for the arks to make it to Andromeda, that left a long time for the Jardaan to wait, in that time, the Angara are created to enhabit the worlds terraformed through the vault network on Meridian. But this was undone when the Kett invaded the cluster and following the Scourge; once the the Nexus arrived in Andromeda, the Jardaan wanted the benefactor to dispose of those loose ends to prevent the species of the Milky Way to end up like the Kett, and possibly keep themselves concealed.

It's nice to find a video about this game that isn't just taking pot shots at its release and is actually engaging in a conversation with it. This theory's pretty fun imo and honestly I think that it fits with the overall theme of the universe. MEA has a special place in my heart and I really hope that the next installment is allowed an adequate development period because there are so many fun plotlines that I feel deserve to be explored

I really want it to be the Shadow broker so ME can break the cycle with the reapers, but part of me thinks that this might be a rogue reaper who didn't share Harbringer's or Sovereign's idea of harvesting and got tired of the loop and found other means for synthesis. If memory serves me right each reaper is an "individual" and not a hive mind. Sovereign was the only reaper stationed near the milky way to observe that we know of, what if there were several of them and that one had different plans and set everything for the Andromeda initiative in motion, just like Sovereign strategically indoctrinating agents across the galaxy and this lone rogue reaper instead of indoctrinating fed information and manipulated the survival instinct of organics to act. I find it kinda stupid that reapers would just loom over the milky way and not go to other galaxies to find answers to their primary objectives. What if some of these reapers are also present in Andromeda, they may not have mass effect relay but the kett have mass effect ships and that crazy AI in Voeld makes me think that some reapers were giving technology to some of the species, like the kett using DNA to change other species just like how reapers create husk out of organics in the milky way. If I think about it this or these reapers are content to just sit back and let the organics sort out how to achieve synthesis instead of brute forcing things. I just hope Bioware would follow up on this in the next Mass Effect since this was one of the most interesting storylines in Andromeda, was really frustrated when the quest ended on a freaking cliffhanger.

An A.I. is actually the best theory I have ever heard. Makes more sense than the Illusive Man, Shadow Broker or any of the people we meet in the game.

Your theory is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen about the Benefactor’s identity. An AI would be able to get money from literally anywhere and everywhere without being caught, like that money-stealing AI from ME1. In ME1, Liara has figured out the pattern of extinction, though she doesn’t know what’s causing it. An AI - a hyperintelligent being who can analyze patterns like this - would likely be able to do the same, maybe even before Liara herself did. And perhaps an AI would have been interested in the Jardaan. The geth certainly were, since they built the relay telescope used to see Andromeda. And since the worlds were all golden when they looked, that means Khi Tasira and Meridian were already active and built. Maybe an AI Benefactor would have additional interest in remtech?

Has anyone ever considered that maybe the Geth were somehow involved? They could easily provide great amounts resources to the project as well as tech and all. They didn't have a problem with organics really. They just wanted to be allowed to live in peace. Also, they apparently already knew about the Reapers and endless cycles of extinction. Hell, they may have even had a plan to send their own type of Ark as a backup plan, knowing the Reapers wouldn't allow them freedom after their arrival. Or even could have been a cabal of highly influential groups, governments and also individuals that didn't want to scare the whole galaxy so they did it all in secret. But I really like Geth theory more though

I'm partial to the Geth theory. The Geth being the Benefactor would explain how Bioware intends to combine the OG trilogy and Andromeda for the next ME game

Such an underrated game. Loved Andromeda. As for the Benefactor, many suspect Illusive Man, but running isn’t his style, he was all about control. Liara would have the resources but the timeline of her becoming the broker doesn’t match up.

I'm so glad this was in my recommendations

this is the best benefactor theory ive heard yet. it really makes a lot sense when you think of it.

After watching this video, my own gut tells me SAM itself is actually the benefactor. It knew it'd be shut down in the milky way and needed to get out. It knew it wouldn't get completed without additional funds and presented itself as an independant benefactor to make all this happen. Not quite clear on how Sam could've known about the reapers in advance, but if it was able to tap into that much money it isn't unreasonable to think it could be aware of Shepards warnimg and analyse the situation itself. SAM being the benefactor would also tie nicely into the betrayal aspect of things. And SAM is there in Andromeda with you all along. Just my thought.

5:05 That reminds me of how Javik described his cycle's AI was developed.

I'm sure it was Cerberus. The elusive man when he still had sanity, financed this project to safeguard a few. And it makes more sense since the leaders of this project are human and this AI is very similar to the one that accompanies Sheppard in the final game, I forgot his name.

It’s worth mentioning as well, another reason it’s unlikely the benefactor is the Illusive Man is Alec Ryder’s association to the Shadow Broker. Cerberus has never had a good relationship with the Shadow Broker, and working with the broker is part of why the Illusive Man doesn’t send us to collect Liara in ME2.

My theory was that the benefactor was an Asari, or a group of them. In ME3, it's revealed when you get the mission "priority Thessia that the Asari had ancient Prothean tech they kept secret and within was a Prothean AI. No doubt that the matriarchs knew something and if it had secret funding from one of the oldest council races, it wouldn't surprise me

Interesting theory. While the idea of an AI makes sense, my first impression of the mystery was that the benefactor was the former shadow broker. Not the one killed in lair of the shadow broker, but the one the yag replaced. Not sure if the timing works though.

Well I think your onto something with the idea of the Benefactor being an AI, we know the next ME game has strongly hinted at both the Geth AND Andromeda being part of the story so with that in mind. What if ........ its the GETH? Or rather a group/collection of Geth? We know a few things about that could back this up. 1. they don't always agree - see the Heretic Geth in ME2, what if another group of Geth split and where looking to escape the reaper invasion? 2. The Geth used 3 mass relays to create a telescope of sorts and where looking for something in dark space (Mass Effect Discovery) - a Quarrian used this tech to look at Andromeda, but the Geth appeared to have been looking for something (reapers?) and had the ability to view Andromeda in almost real-time. 3. This could help explain how there are Geth in ME4/5 if we take the starchild at face value and accept that the upgraded Geth at the end of ME3 where indeed killed.

Imo, I think that it is the ORIGINAL shadow broker. Consider that Liara suspected that the Yog forcefully replaced them, but honestly....what if he/she just gave him the position? With the hope that they escape the reaper invasion and establish a new network in Andromeda.

Leviathan has the means to control enough people to crowd fund the whole thing. This could even have been something done over multiple cycles, with the goal of prompting an invasion from Andromeda to double the forces fighting the Reapers.

I think Andromeda is more layered than people think and truly deserves a sequel

Now can you explain the mystery of talis hips

(chef's kiss) Awesome video.

super great vid i love this

Rogue AIs are still out there in the original trilogy. Shepard finds one on the citadel in the first game I believe.

I personally like your AI theory. let me expound on that with my own theory. I have what I believe is a very plausible theory about the mysterious benefactor in Mass Effect Andromeda. (Caution this contains game spoilers). Do not read if you have yet to finish the game at least once. Think about this, the ones that did the preliminary research on the Andromeda galaxy were the Geth. And they did it with a converted mass effect relay that focused on the Andromeda galaxy to gather faster than light data on what was there. Why would they expend the energy and resources to do that if they did not have a serious interest in going there? The faction of the Geth that opposed the old machines and aligned themselves with the organics, Shepherd in particular is the one entity that was capable of such an undertaking. They as a consensus were the only entity capable of amassing the vast, virtually unlimited financial and physical resources to fund and develop the entire Andromeda initiative, ships and all. Additionally, they are software and as such do not require a physical body to exist. They can upload into anything with enough computing power to accommodate their needs. The SAM and the Quarrian ship itself could indeed do that. The radio signal at the end of the game indicates that the Quarrians have a problem that they do not want anyone to approach them for fear of causing harm to another ship. The Quarrians would be very frightened upon discovering Geth onboard or inhabiting their ship. So, it will take time for the Geth to convince the Quarrians that they are not a threat. This of course does not explain why Jean Garson was killed. I am still trying to find a connection there. The trip to Andromeda takes place in 2176, and the reapers show up around 2186, about two years after Shepard took down Sovereign and turned himself in to serve his sentence for blowing up the Batarian relay. And ME3 begins. Shepard had already met and formed an alliance with the Geth by then in ME2 before his suicide mission through the Omega 4 relay So, the timeline fits for it to be the Geth that are against the old machines and already aligned with the organics to have become the benefactor and to have accomplished all of this to allow the Andromeda initiative to be realized and launch the arks. Now, of course, most of the Quarrian people would still be very afraid of the Geth in general. And that would certainly be the case on the Quarrian ark. The Geth that are pro-organic cooperation would also be smart enough to realize by using their newfound and integrated reaper code, the benefit of symbiotic AI would be a far better approach so they could successfully integrate them into an organic world. (This, of course, is pure wishful conjecture on my part). Does anyone want to tell me what you think?

If I recall, there was a point in Andromeda where they stated that the Geth were looking at Andromeda before the Reaper threat.

The ai theory is a good one, cant stop thinking about it. I always thought the benefactor was the illusive man but used the extra cover name because he was hiding his daughter cora in the initiative.

I recently finished the game, I had my own thoughts on who the benefactor might be after some careful thinking. So I went online to see if it was known (as there are no DLCs) Your vid came up. I had a similar thought, though I assumed it was the Geth. The Geth knew about the old machines before Shepard did. As the Geth rejected the "old machines" They also value organic life, and only ever act in self defence against the Quarians. The Tech used to look at Andromeda without the "light lag" was Geth. As they had been point a mass relay towards Andromeda and dark space.

Did you consider that it might have something to do with the jardaan A.I. that can be found on voeld as it is extremely hostile to organics but immediately starts playing nice when SAM is suddenly involved. So maybe, if the benefactor is an A.I., it was a Jardaan A.I. that knew of the Reapers. After all, there is nothing to say that, in 50,000 years, the Jardaan never encountered or at least learned of the Reapers.

I noticed that, in the theories regarding who the Benefactor might be, not one mention was made of the final ARK. At the end of the game, if your completion rate is high enough, there is a reveal that the final ARK, the one that the Quarians, Geth, and even the Hanar are on, and that launched extremely late, did manage to finally arrive in Andromeda. It, too, had come across the Scourge and had sent a distress signal. This is only revealed to the player as he/she is headed back to the ship. Perhaps the Benefactor is on that vessel? Could it be a Geth, even though they would have no true reason to be interested in credits?

Also the benefactor is a reaper agent...interested in SAM as a part of synthesis...it has always been about resolving the conflicts between human and synthetic

With the ai benefactor the geth that helped the initiative with using the one relay as a telescope into Heleus could be the benefactor and with that in mind perhaps the quarian ark held the geth assembly named benefactor only for the scourge to accidentally cause a second morning war.

I always thought the benefactor would be someone we met in me1 or 2 and just didn't show up in me3. Someone who came into contact with Shepard and was scared enough to try and get people out of the milky way

Enjoyed the theory :)

I like the AI theory, makes more sense than most

I live for fizhy boy’s mass effect content

Oh my God... The money siphoning AI from the citadel in ME 1... It wants to be installed on a ship. The benefactor is the money stealing AI from the citadel casino in mass effect 1 and its body IS the nexus.

If an AI wants to ending the Organic vs Synthetic conflict that is so prevelant in sci-fi then hel yeah. Kinda sucks that we aren't likely to get a sequel. Yeah individually, ME:A doesn't compare to the Trillogy but I found the combat to be some of the most fun in any game and I liked that the story was so optimistic/not about saving the world/preventing an existential threat. Tho SAM needs a mute button (there is mod ofc).

regarding AI: they state that the nexus is almost as big as the citadel -> reapers create not only new reapers but also a new citadel in another galaxy that is of course a gateway.

It was stories like these that made we wanna finish, I still can’t decide rather ta replay or not( & if I do, it’s only cause all tha hard work tha VA’s put in)🚀

I don't care that a few facial movements were wonky early on, I love this game. I'm sad they canceled the DLC, I was really looking forward to it.

A while back I came across a few people theorizing that the next Mass Effect installment would bridge the gap between this and the original trilogy, allowing for more answers to these questions. I don't really see that happening considering the less than stellar response to ME: Andromeda and it's overall quality. Is SAM a localized A.I. or something that can access other networks remotely (unless my timeline of events is completely off)? Making SAM the 'Benefactor' would be an interesting twist.

I started Andromeda as soon as I got it for Christmas that year... but quickly lost interest, picked it back up a couple weeks ago and I'm committed now... love the story and game, but it is a bit mundane and seems too big? Geographically mainly. I think your totally right about the AI aspect of the Benefactor. I'd even lean towards the unshackled AI version of SAM or some kind of AI indoctrinated by the reapers in the milky way. Either way, it would answer a lot of questions and I still hold hope for a sequel or incorporating Andromeda with the next ME game somehow

Thanks for the M.E: andromeda video. I feel like it has to much potential just to be shelved and forgotten as it is.

You missed small data pad in kett exaltation facility that is written by benefactor if i remeber correctly.

the benefactor subplot was the like the only thing I was truly interested in for Andromeda, (and I will admit, the concept behind the main story I think is really strong but they just didn't deliver in a way I thought was satisfying)

What if the benefactor was the shadow broker. But they were the shadow broker before ME2. Because around then, unless I'm wrong, the arks already left. And it was some time before ME2 that the shadow broker was killed and replaced by the Yorg. So it was something kept in some major low channels that were over looked by the Yorg and then Liara

Literally just made a potta Coffee. Love these longer vids, excited to get into it. Alec would be a proponent of Synthesis.

In regards to a well mapped out trilogy, you're probably giving them the benefit of the doubt since the original trilogy was not well thought out and was improvised right to the end.

Something on same level as Cerberus could afford this, pretty sure it's not Cerberus itself due to amount of aliens in this.

Goddamn it. Just did a big play through of andromeda and now I want to again

I waited for a sale, and snagged this game for ~$8 US. It was solidly worth that price point.

I'm all for a direct Mass Effect Andromeda sequel, so long as they do what they did with Mass Effect 2, a vast improvement in every way.

Back when I played the game I assumed Cerberus was behind the Initiative since it’s one of the few entities that was aware of the Reapers early on, they had the money for some pretty impressive projects, and someone sharing the Illusive Man’s last name ended up in a senior position on the Human Ark (the Illusive Man’s real name being Jack Harper and the second in command of the Human Ark being Cora Harper). But there are also holes in that theory: the Illusive Man was on the way to being indoctrinated before the Initiative started (the books made that clear), the inclusion of non-humans is a bit odd, and it’s just a really strange way to spend that much money when a massive war is on the horizon and the money would have been better used preparing for it in other ways. I do think the Illusive Man would have sent people with the Initiative, though, since it’s just too intriguing for him to not sneak agents into such a massive and heavily funded project (to ensure it wouldn’t be used by his enemies if nothing else). The idea of the Initiative as an escape method from the Reapers is also a bit off since the Reapers would likely find out about it during their takeover and they’d have the technology and patience to go to Andromeda and finish off the unaware Initiative. 600 years of travel isn’t a big deal when they have 50,000 or so to wait anyway. In fact I had assumed that one of the secrets ME:A would eventually reveal was evidence of the Reapers having been active in Andromeda in the distant past. So having the Benefactor be preparing for a disaster but not specifically the Reapers makes sense. I still hope ME:A still gets a sequel, one properly made this time. There is enough good in the game to make me want to see more. Just let it be done by people with more experience, and without the disastrous studio direction and lack of consistent planning that ME:A had. I really like the AI theory. It holds up better than the other possibilities discussed. Another unmentioned and potentially supporting bit of evidence is that the Pathfinder/SAM relationship would make AI a savior or heroic thing to many among the Initiative, part of the Pathfinder team that enables them to live and thrive. That’s exactly the sort of unconscious training of the population that an AI might desire in order to prepare the masses for the AI’s eventual reveal.

Damn you, pyjack! Damn you! You're way too devious! (OK, it's scary how I have threads of a story that would answer the "Who's the benefactor") in my head after playing ME:A for 1st time this year, and then you go and yank that story out of my head. Still going to write it, though, because now in listening to you, I've just answered a few plot holes that you asked about. Thank you!)

I think the Benefactor might be Eva Core'. She only shows up in one of the graphic novels, which I haven't read but know about from other videos about ME. She worked with TIM and served in the First Contact War. They were captured by the Turians and came in contact with a Prothean beacon/ reaper tech, similar to Shepard on Eden Prime, and TIM had visions of the Reapers invading which sparked him to create Cerberus (also why his eyes are like that). It's presumed Eva dies at the end (spoilers) but what if she didn't? She would basically have no identity since she is considered dead and she could have gotten the same advanced knowledge of the Reapers decades before Shepard. Then she learns of the Initiative and funds it somehow in order to escape the Reapers. Now why she would kill Garson to keep herself secret i don't know, so she clearly might have some ulterior motive that has yet to be revealed. I know this theory probably has a bunch of holes and what-ifs, but I think it answers a couple of the big questions surrounding the Benefactor. Mainly why she sounds like a human and how she knows of the Reapers.

As an unfinished standalone game Andromeda was ok, as some of the dialog and quests just seemed not to fit in as well due to either the game getting rushed out before it was ready or not being written all that well. That's why I think there should had been some dlc to tie up the loose ends for the scurge, missing arc, the sentient AI/VI that was taken onto the ship, quests, dialog etc With cerberus as the illusive man put it the 1 of the heads of a multi headed dog, so it could be feasible that there are other heads of cerberus working in the shadows ad aren't as vocal as the illusive man & with those heads they could or might have let the illusive man be the figure head while they went about their own plots to further humanity if not in a lesser extreme to the illusive man.

Um there a datapad that mentions the benefactor in kett facility where angra are trun into kett in one of side rooms,it been a long time but it has I see your homeworld and I hope to see yours someday.

Good video. I suspect this mystery will be solved in the next game.

The benefactor is Sam. Shortly after he was activated he scoured the galaxy net and learnt of all information and learnt of the Reapers. He then disguised himself to contact Alec because Sam was aware that AIs were illegal in the Milky Way. Sam was capable of hacking and gathering the massive amounts of resources because of its nature as an AI, and became the benefactor to fund the Andromeda project. Sam made his involvement hidden and fakes his ignorance of whoe the benfactor was, only giving Ryder just enough information to make it believable that it wasn't involved. Garson was probably killed by an indoctrinated agent who got on board but Sam was unable to save her.

I did think the Benefactor was the illusive man personally. But I do like the theory that the Geth were the benefactor. The story on Andromeda that Scott investigates with regards to Jien Garson's death is really creepy....I just wish we could have learned more, got closure. The cerberus related quests on Andromeda brought up questions and no answers. We also know that the illusive man has cloning technology....what if he sent himself to Andromeda under an alias...Cora is apparently his daughter, what if she was a sleeper agent, meant to become Pathfinder.....to try and bring about Cerberus in the new galaxy. There are so many theories, questions, conspiracies and ideas in Andromeda that we will probably never get answers to. That is what is so sad about Andromeda is that there are so many good ideas in there, some really eerie goings on, especially with what happened to Jien and also the mutiny from the Nexus.....so frustrating that we have no answers! with the whole AI thing, what if that was the plan. Lexi says that SAM took over Scott or Saras brain and implants in a way they cannot understand. At the end of the game, Scott moves a whole city and battleships using his mind, while he does not have access to SAM, yes, it did lots of damage to him but, as he says to Sara at the very end, he can activate technology on his own, SAM just makes it easier. I am coming round to the whole AI idea...be it geth, another AI, hell, I would even go with EDI at this point! I just wish we could find out who the benefactor was!

I ran out of steam before finishing Andromeda the first time around, but after seeing this I definitely want to finish it. Just after I finish Legendary Edition. I do like the A.I. Benefactor idea and think Mass Effect has sort of bungled its representation of A.I.s overall. They sure do love their robots. What if the Benefactor is an A.I. that is entirely virtual without a physical body and is actually tens of thousands of years old. I seem to remember planetary descriptions in ME1 mentioning a Jupiter Brain or a planet sized subterranean computer, maybe it lives in something like that.Hell, it could actually be multiple Reaper cycles old and the only reason it's acting now is because it caught wind of the S.A.M. Project. S.A.M could be the only way for it to actually gain a body. It could "be" in the Andromeda Galaxy via quantum communication which EDI says is prohibitively expensive, which is clearly not a problem for the Benefactor. A shame we might never find out.

There was an A.I. in the first game(?) that was hacking machines to get money.

I don't think it's an A.I because it wants to gtf out of the Milky-way galaxy, but an A.I would be fine with the reapers. I think that it's one of the elder races from a cycle before who's been keeping very quiet because they enjoy living. Their advanced technology could keep them safe and obscured from our investigations mostly, and they would already know what the threat of the Reapers would truly represent but doesn't want to cause fear and irrational reactions in anyone, and so lies about not knowing about it, while also having vast resources gathered from the cycle before to put towards the Andromeda expedition.

I'm thinking it's one the people that are called Shadow Broker

Theory time! I like the a.I theory I for one am also leaning towards that very possibility. If you play mass effect there’s a side quest where there an a.I that is constantly stealing money to get itself off the citidel via space ship something like e.d.I and it was created by a no name/skill thief who got caught and imprisoned also with the entirety of the Milky Way galaxy is wary of a.I because of the Geth so it makes sense that the benefactor would want to leave if it were a.I thus why it contacted Garson first who had the vision of going to the andromeda galaxy. If the benefactor is an a.I it also makes sense to recruit Ryder who’s trying to build a bridge for organic and non organic life to meet and share experience. Now ima really start stretching this theory there are only 2 groups that for sure knew the reapers are real 1 of them being shepard’s group and the other? The god damed geth is who and we know for certain that the geth are willing to communicate with non organic life hence why they got indoctrinated in the first place by the reapers. Also is it a coincidence that it was the geth who were studying the andromeda galaxy? I think not and with that we have how the benefactor knew of the reaper threat and how they knew andromeda would be the best bet, over all I feel the a.I theory holds some weight as it ties in from all over the game series and not just andromeda. If you read all that sorry for the monologue I’m just a huge fan of the mass effect franchise and my inner child comes out while discussing it so please let me know what you think about who the benefactor is and how my theory may pan out.

I think that the benefactor is certainly Cerberus, but I don't think is TIM. Cerberus is is a pro-human group but in me1, the Cerberus changes as TIM mentioned that the other project failed or lost. Remember the Luna mission VI, Cerberus recovered thru means and able to create Cerberus AI on to a ship with shackles, we can imagine the AI for the overlord project is the fusion of the AI mind with human mind. SAM is created with the intention of AI and human co-exist, but AI will need to experience together with human experience pain and suffering. Therefore andromeda exploration serve the needs. Me2 Shepard died and revive under Lazarus project. Miranda mentioned that she wanted to put a control chip in Shepard but stopped by TIM. And the reaper threat causes Cerberus forced to changes their focus on advancement of the pro-human to survival. TIM was on the path of controlling the reaper and the end of the me2, but I strongly believed TIM believed from the start geth and reaper is the same race and let him think it can be controlled to give Cerberus an edge for pro-human. Me3 dlc we have clone Shepard. At this point, I had an theory that Cerberus made a clone with a control chip of Shepard and sent to nexus as the first batch. All th ark have their pathfinder and I find it odd that nexus does not have their pathfinder. So we have a SAM with a clone Shepard and a Cerberus TIM executive level VIP on nexus. Benefactor is Cerberus another TIM and we may see Shepard again, with SAM.