"Dragon Age Lives On: Ex-BioWare Dev Reassures Fans"

Following layoffs at BioWare that led to the departure of many key developers of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a former writer on the series has moved to reassure fans, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."

This week, EA restructured BioWare to concentrate solely on Mass Effect 5. Some developers who worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA studios. For instance, John Epler, Veilguard's creative director, was transferred to Full Circle to work on their upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. However, several other developers were laid off and are currently seeking new employment opportunities.

The restructuring decision came after EA announced that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter—a figure nearly 50% below the company's expectations. It's important to note that EA did not specify if this number represents unit sales, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard was also available through EA's Play Pro subscription service. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the 1.5 million figure includes users who participated in a free trial offered via the more affordable EA Play subscription.

The combination of EA's announcement, the restructuring of BioWare, and the confirmation of layoffs has led the Dragon Age community to fear for the series' future. No DLC is planned for The Veilguard, and BioWare's work on the game concluded last week with what appears to be its final major update.

However, Sheryl Chee, a senior writer on Dragon Age: The Veilguard who transitioned to work on Iron Man at Motive, took to social media to offer words of encouragement. Chee acknowledged the challenges of the past two years, seeing her team diminish while still needing to persevere. In response to a fan mourning the perceived end of Dragon Age, Chee emphasized the enduring spirit of the community.

She shared a quote from Camus, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," and highlighted the ongoing contributions of fans through fan fiction, art, and the connections formed through the games. Chee asserted that while EA/BioWare owns the intellectual property, the essence of Dragon Age belongs to the fans. "DA isn't dead because it's yours now," she declared, celebrating the inspiration and creative endeavors spurred by the series.

Dragon Age originated 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. In September, former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah disclosed that Dragon Age Inquisition had sold over 12 million copies, significantly surpassing EA's internal projections.

While EA has not officially declared Dragon Age dead, the future of the series seems uncertain given BioWare's full focus on Mass Effect 5. EA confirmed that a "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is currently developing the next Mass Effect game. EA told IGN that the studio is adequately staffed for this stage of development, though specific numbers were not disclosed.