Dragon Age Series Not Dead, Says Ex-BioWare Dev: 'It's Yours Now'

Following recent layoffs at BioWare, which led to the departure of many key developers involved with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has reached out to reassure fans. Amidst the uncertainty, Chee, who has transitioned to work on Iron Man at Motive, shared an optimistic message: "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."

This week, EA announced a strategic shift for BioWare, directing its full attention to Mass Effect 5. As a result, several developers who worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA projects. Notably, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, was moved to Full Circle to work on the upcoming skateboarding game Skate. Unfortunately, not all were reassigned, and some developers found themselves laid off and in search of new opportunities.

The decision to refocus BioWare's efforts came after Dragon Age: The Veilguard reportedly underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter—a figure significantly lower than EA's expectations. It's important to note that this number does not necessarily reflect unit sales, as The Veilguard was also accessible through EA's Play Pro subscription service. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the free trial offered via the EA Play subscription contributed to the 1.5 million player count.

These developments have led to widespread concern among the Dragon Age community about the future of the series. With no planned DLC for The Veilguard and BioWare concluding its work on the game with its last major update, fans have been left questioning the franchise's fate.

In response, Sheryl Chee took to social media to offer a message of hope. Reflecting on her challenging two years at BioWare, she acknowledged the difficulty of seeing her team diminish yet expressed gratitude for still being employed. Addressing a fan's lament about the series' supposed demise, Chee emphasized the enduring legacy of Dragon Age through fan-created content such as fiction, art, and the connections forged by the games.

She quoted Camus, highlighting resilience: "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." Chee underscored that while EA and BioWare may own the IP, the essence of Dragon Age lives on through the fans. She encouraged continued creativity and engagement with the series, stating, "If DA has inspired you to do something, if it sparks that Invincible summer, then it's done its job, and it has been my greatest honor to have been a part of that."

The Dragon Age series began with Dragon Age: Origins in 2010, followed by Dragon Age 2 in 2011, and Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014. The latest installment, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, took a decade to release. Former executive producer Mark Darrah revealed in September that Dragon Age: Inquisition had sold over 12 million copies, exceeding EA's projections significantly.

While EA has not officially declared the end of Dragon Age, the current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the restructuring of BioWare make the prospects of a new Dragon Age game seem distant. EA confirmed that a dedicated team at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is actively developing Mass Effect 5, signaling a clear priority shift within the studio.