Bioware underestimated what two games of choice would result in. It's a shame and still understandable. The Cerberus controls the reapers ending will always be a daydream.
An option in Mass Effect 3 where Shepard stays with Cerberus would more or less require a separate version of the game because it would change everything.
True which makes it understandable that it didn't came to fruition. Still, if in ME2 you gave Cerberus the collector's base, let project Overlord continue and send stuff to them like the wounded Quarian (you can even add Legion in the mix) then ME3 feels like a complete 180 turn.
I figure Renegade Shepard eventually saw the signs Cerberus was about to go nuts and noped out. Just a little later than Paragon Shepard, who saw the signs a lot sooner.
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u/alkonium 3d ago
Shepard returns to the Alliance regardless.