Following significant layoffs at BioWare, which resulted in the departure of many key developers behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has moved to reassure fans that the franchise is far from dead. In a heartfelt social media post, Chee, now working on Iron Man at Motive, stated, “DA isn't dead because it's yours now,” emphasizing the enduring impact and ownership fans have over the series through their creative contributions.
This week, EA announced a restructuring of BioWare to focus exclusively on Mass Effect 5. As part of this shift, some developers from Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA projects, while others were laid off. Notably, John Epler, the creative director for Veilguard, was moved to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. The layoffs have left many former BioWare employees seeking new opportunities.
EA's decision to restructure comes after Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during the recent financial quarter—a figure nearly 50% below EA's projections. It's important to note that EA did not specify whether these numbers reflect unit sales or include players accessing the game through EA's Play Pro and EA Play subscription services, which offer a free trial.
The combination of EA's announcement, the studio's restructuring, and the layoffs have led many in the Dragon Age community to fear that the series is effectively over. There are no plans for DLC for The Veilguard, and BioWare concluded its work on the game with its last major update last week.
Amidst these developments, Chee shared words of encouragement and hope. Reflecting on her challenging two years at BioWare, she quoted Albert Camus, saying, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” She highlighted the resilience and creativity of the Dragon Age fanbase, pointing out that fan fiction, art, and the connections formed through the games keep the spirit of the series alive. Chee firmly believes that while EA and BioWare may own the IP, the true essence of Dragon Age belongs to the fans.
Chee's sentiments were echoed by a fan who announced plans to write an alternate universe story inspired by the series, underscoring the ongoing influence and inspiration Dragon Age provides to its community. Chee expressed her honor in having contributed to a series that continues to ignite creativity and passion among its fans.
The Dragon Age series, which began with Dragon Age: Origins in 2010, followed by Dragon Age 2 in 2011 and Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014, saw its latest installment, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, released after a decade-long wait. Former executive producer Mark Darrah revealed that Dragon Age: Inquisition sold over 12 million copies, significantly surpassing EA's internal expectations.
While EA has not officially declared the end of Dragon Age, the current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the state of BioWare suggest that a new Dragon Age game may not be forthcoming. EA has confirmed that a "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is developing the next Mass Effect game. The company stated that the studio is appropriately staffed for this stage of the project, though specific numbers were not disclosed.
