10 Video Game Fan Theories That Became Fact
5. Mass Effect 3 - Commander Shepard Is Canadian
This one is an anomaly, in that it doesn't concern a fan theory that changes the perception of the game, or something embedded as a game mechanic. It purely concerns the nationality of Commander Shepherd (both male and female), the protagonist of the Mass Effect series.
Specifically, fans thought that Commander Shepherd was a born and bred Canadian.
Developers Bioware were founded and based in Canada, and the male and female voice actors who play Commander Shepherd were both Canadian in origin. This led to a significant portion of fans who were convinced he was Canadian, with other fans stating the character was 'generically' North American.
The developers addressed this indirectly in Mass Effect 3. The prologue is set in Vancouver, albeit a nondescript version of it. If Commander Shepherd strikes up a romance with party member Samantha Traynor, at one point Shepherd tells her "I promise you, in just a few months we'll be sipping drinks back in Vancouver", suggesting that is where Shepherd calls home.
Although it is debatable whether this is a direct confirmation of Shepherd's nationality, at the very least it shows a knowing wink from the developers to this oft speculated fan theory.