When do you think Mass Effect will finally return?

It depends if they go for a reboot, soft reboot, new story within Andromeda, new story within the MWG, or a direct sequel to Andromeda.

Direct Sequel to Andromeda 2020, maybe 2021. Everything else, probably 2022.

I'd love a sequel to ME:A, but I'm really not that optimistic about there being one at all ever.  I think the single-player RPG genre (as far as large-scale AAA games) is dying... It's gettingmore and more expensive to produce each game and the whole genre has generally been not the biggest sellers when it comes to videogames anyways.  Small niche indie RPGs will continue on PC, but I think Bioware is only the first AAA developerr to give off indications about going away from the completely.

I'm going to guess 2021, figuring when their other games will most likely release.

Anthem: late 2018
DA4: late 2019-early 2020

I know this isn't going to be popular nor is it what I want but I honestly believe this was the last Mass Effect game we will ever get. A reboot isn't a new game so I don't count that.

Post DA4 & Anthem I expect.

2022. Hope it is sooner

Shouldn't the poll include "never"?

I disagree. Anything Mass Effect related will come under intense scrutiny following the Andromeda fiasco and undoubtedly a degree of undeserved criticism. But a good game can easily rise above that.
Of course, EA would have to put their faith in Bioware to deliver so I doubt that will happen until DA4 is released and they can see how that's received. And EA might just decide Bioware has too much baggage now and pull the plug on that as well.

I agree that an excellent game could rise above the online mob. I just don't think that BioWare will be given/take another shot at it. The ME3 debacle was bad, and then we get this MEA reception. No IP runs forever. I think they'll let ME lie dormant for a long time, if not permanently.

Well, I'm of the opposite mindset. No IP stays dead forever. I mean look at Star Wars, Mirror's Edge 2 or hell Will & Grace. There's countless examples of IP's that have been dormant for a long time only to come back.

Who? Besides in your imagination?

The statement does imply that the Bioware team has to come up with some fresh and exciting ideas in order for EA to agree to do another one.  This then precludes any sort of sequel to the ME:A story (which I liked personally but went over like a lead balloon with a very determined and vocal group of fans who were determined to force a reboot of the Trilogy story).  Unfortunately for them, that statement also precludes such a reboot - since it's also not a  fresh idea... so people should really get off riding them about doing such a thing.

If Bioware does come up with something truly fresh and exciting that they'll be willing to pitch to EA, I really don't think they are going to risk attaching it to the Mass Effect name again.  They'll start a new IP instead.  They are not going to try to face down those same "ME fans" who have made it very evident that they are absolutely determined that only a rewrite of ME3's endings will placate them.  The mandate from EA is obviously not to placate old ME fans (who obviously cannot be placated anyways), but to come up with something new to attract new fans.  Bioware hoped ME:A would be it... but that hasn't worked out as well as they hoped.  The next try, therefore, will likely be even more far removed from the old ideas embedded in the ME Trilogy.

I also think the genre itself is dying... being overtaken by games with more action elements and more MP elements.  This also makes it tougher for Bioware to "sell" another try at a Mass Effect RPG to EA execs at this point.  Of course, the skies could always part and the kett keel over... but I don't think that will happen any time in the foreseeable future.