How to Romance Steve Cortez in Mass Effect LE

Playing a male Shepard who wants to romance someone different than the rest of the cast? Look no further, as Steve Cortez is the man you want to romance in Mass Effect LE.

How to Romance Steve Cortez in Mass Effect LE

Romancing Steve Cortez showed the game's steps toward being inclusive and straying away from the exclusively heterosexual relationships that male Shepard was able to romance. Although, the third Mass Effect does provide more options in trying to promote inclusivity for both female and male Shepards.

Regardless, Steve Cortez's romance storyline does not disappoint as he is a broken man, and Shepard is his rebound.

After speaking with Cortez once and then completing a mission, Cortez will be mourning the loss of his former husband, Robert, who was taken by the Collectors. As with other love interests in the game, selecting the Paragon dialogue options will help ensure that he can get over Robert and move on with Shepard.

Later, when completing another mission, meet Cortez in the Cargo Bay and persuade him to take a shore leave as a favor to Shepard. There will be a chance to select a quick Paragon Interrupt option that needs to be pressed to progress this romance. Cortez can be found again during his time off at the Citadel where he'll still show some attachment to Robert, but will later say goodbye to him at the Memorial Wall in an interaction after.

The key part of the start of this budding relationship is when Cortez is at the Purgatory club. After some dialogue, there will be an option when Cortez is looking at the "eye candy" in the club, in which Shepard needs to say that "I'm eye candy too" and he's "Waiting for the right man."

Cortez will then ask for Shepard to dance with him, accept the offer and there will be the option later where Shepard can say "I want more than a friendship." Shepard will kiss Steve in the middle of the dance floor. There is a Paragon Interrupt right before the kiss, but they'll still kiss regardless.

Following the kiss at the club, the romance will finally be locked in between Shepard and Steve Cortez.