Dragon Age Series Lives On, Former BioWare Dev Assures Fans

Following recent layoffs at BioWare, which saw many key developers of Dragon Age: The Veilguard depart, former series writer Sheryl Chee has stepped forward to reassure fans, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now." This week, EA restructured BioWare to focus solely on Mass Effect 5, moving some Veilguard developers to other EA projects, such as John Epler, who transitioned to Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. Unfortunately, others were laid off and are now seeking new opportunities.

EA's decision came after Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during the recent financial quarter—a figure nearly 50% below the company's expectations. It's worth noting that EA did not specify whether this number represents unit sales, as The Veilguard was also accessible via the EA Play Pro subscription service. Additionally, it remains unclear if this figure includes players of a free trial offered through the cheaper EA Play subscription.

The combination of EA's announcement, the restructuring at BioWare, and the layoffs has led to widespread concern among the Dragon Age community that the series may be nearing its end. There are no plans for DLC for The Veilguard, and BioWare concluded its work on the game with its last major update last week.

However, Sheryl Chee, a senior writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard who has moved to work on Iron Man at Motive, took to social media to offer words of encouragement. She shared her personal experience of the past two years, watching her team diminish while still pushing forward, and acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry.

In response to a fan's lament about the potential demise of Dragon Age, Chee emphasized the enduring life of the series through the contributions of its fans. She quoted Albert Camus, saying, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," to highlight the resilience of the community. Chee insisted that while EA and BioWare own the IP, the ideas and the spirit of Dragon Age belong to the fans, who keep it alive through fan fiction, art, and the connections made through the games.

Chee further encouraged fans by celebrating a fan's intention to create an alternate universe (AU) story, reinforcing that the inspiration provided by Dragon Age to its community is a testament to its lasting impact.

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, arrived after a decade-long wait. Notably, former executive producer Mark Darrah disclosed that Dragon Age: Inquisition had sold over 12 million copies, far exceeding EA's projections.

While EA has not officially declared the end of Dragon Age, the future of the series appears uncertain given BioWare's current focus on Mass Effect 5. EA confirmed that a dedicated team at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is actively developing the next installment in the Mass Effect series. EA emphasized that the studio is appropriately staffed for the current stage of Mass Effect's development, though specific numbers were not disclosed.