Dragon Age Fans Reassured: Series Not Dead, Says Ex-BioWare Dev

In the wake of significant layoffs at BioWare, which resulted in the departure of many key developers behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has stepped forward to reassure fans. Amidst concerns that the Dragon Age series may be nearing its end, Chee offered words of encouragement, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."

This week, Electronic Arts (EA) announced a restructuring of BioWare, shifting its focus exclusively to Mass Effect 5. Some developers who worked on Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA projects. For instance, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, was moved to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. However, many others were laid off and are now looking for new opportunities.

EA's decision came after Dragon Age: The Veilguard reportedly underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter—a figure significantly lower than the company's expectations. It's important to note that this number may not represent unit sales, as the game was also accessible through EA's Play Pro subscription service. Additionally, it remains unclear whether this count includes players who accessed a free trial of the game via the cheaper EA Play subscription.

The combination of EA's announcement, the restructuring at BioWare, and the confirmation of layoffs has led to widespread concern among Dragon Age fans that the series might be over. There are no plans for DLC for The Veilguard, and BioWare's involvement with the game concluded last week with what appears to be its final major update.

Despite this, Sheryl Chee, who transitioned from BioWare to work on Iron Man at Motive, shared a message of hope on social media. Reflecting on the challenges faced over the past two years, she acknowledged the difficulty of seeing her team diminish but expressed gratitude for still being employed. In response to a fan expressing concern over the future of Dragon Age, Chee emphasized the enduring legacy of the series, stating that while EA and BioWare hold the intellectual property, the true essence of Dragon Age lives on through the community's creations and connections.

"So a cool French woman dropped a cool quote from Camus on me today: 'In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer,'" Chee shared. She highlighted the resilience and creativity of the fanbase, noting that fan fiction, art, and the relationships forged through the games keep Dragon Age alive. "DA isn't dead because it's yours now," she affirmed, celebrating the fans' contributions as a testament to the series' lasting impact.

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, arrived after a decade-long wait. Former executive producer Mark Darrah, who left BioWare in 2020, revealed that Dragon Age: Inquisition sold over 12 million copies, far exceeding EA's internal projections.

Although EA has not declared the Dragon Age series dead, the future seems uncertain, especially with BioWare's full focus now on Mass Effect 5. EA confirmed that a "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is developing the next game in the series. While specific numbers weren't disclosed, EA assured that the studio is appropriately staffed for this stage of development.