Dragon Age Not Dead, Assures Former BioWare Dev: 'It's Yours Now'

Following the recent layoffs at BioWare, which resulted in the departure of numerous key developers involved in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has reached out to fans to offer reassurance. Amidst concerns that the franchise might be on its last legs, Chee, who has transitioned to working on Iron Man at Motive, stated, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now." This message comes in the wake of EA's decision to restructure BioWare to concentrate solely on Mass Effect 5, shifting some Veilguard developers to other EA projects, while others faced layoffs.

EA's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had only engaged 1.5 million players—falling short of the company's expectations by nearly 50%—has fueled fears about the series' future. It's worth noting that EA did not clarify whether this figure represents unit sales or if it includes players who accessed the game through EA's Play Pro subscription service or a free trial offered via the cheaper EA Play subscription.

The restructuring and layoffs have led to a palpable sense of doom among Dragon Age enthusiasts, especially since no DLC is planned for The Veilguard and BioWare's work on the game concluded with its last major update last week. However, Chee took to social media to offer words of encouragement, sharing her own struggles and the hope she finds in the community's ongoing engagement with the series.

"I'm now with Motive," Chee shared. "It's been a hard two years seeing my team get chipped away and having to still keep going. But I'm still employed, so there's that." Responding to a fan's lament about the series' demise, Chee emphasized the enduring spirit of Dragon Age within its fanbase. She quoted Albert Camus, saying, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," and highlighted the resilience of the French as a symbol of resistance.

"But DA isn't dead," Chee insisted. "There's fic. There's art. There's the connections we made through the games and because of the games. Technically EA/BioWare owns the IP but you can't own an idea, no matter how much they want to. DA isn't dead because it's yours now." She further encouraged fans to keep the spirit of Dragon Age alive through their own creative endeavors, celebrating the inspiration the series provides.

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 had exceeded expectations, selling over 12 million copies. Despite this past success, the future of the series remains uncertain, particularly with BioWare's focus now shifting entirely to Mass Effect 5.

EA has not declared Dragon Age dead, but with the studio's resources now dedicated to Mass Effect under the guidance of veterans from the original trilogy, new Dragon Age content appears unlikely in the near future. As for Mass Effect, EA assures that a dedicated core team at BioWare is working on the next installment, though specific numbers have not been disclosed.