The final installment of BioWare’s sprawling space opera apparently needs a bit more time in hyperspace, as the EA-held dev studio announced that Mass Effect 3 won’t be out until the first quarter of 2012.

In a statement that went out on Facebook and BioWare message boards, executive producer Casey Hudson said:

“Today we have confirmed that Mass Effect 3 will be released in the first three months of 2012. The development team is laser focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone’s expectations. We’ll have more details about specific dates as we get closer to release.”

The Mass Effect series puts players in control of Commander Shepard, a human space soldier out to stop the universal extinction of all organic life by a machine race called the Reapers. Mass Effect 2 was one of last year’s top games and won Best of 2010 accolades from all over (including us). Many were surprised when a “three-quel” with a 2011 release date was announced in late 2010.

The delay actually isn’t so bad for ME3. Many gamers felt Dragon Age II, another big BioWare sequel, was rushed out the door. Similar rumblings about the turnaround on Mass Effect 3 have been churning. A few more months in development should allay those fears and allow BioWare’ flagship franchise to dodge big games like Uncharted 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in an already packed 2011 holiday quarter. You’ll still get to give Shepard the send-off he (or she) deserves, you’ll just have to wait a little longer.