As Dragon Age Fans Fear the Death of the Series, One Former BioWare Developer Offers Words of Reassurance: 'Dragon Age Isn't Dead Because It's Yours Now'

In the wake of significant layoffs at BioWare, which resulted in the departure of many key developers involved with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has stepped forward to reassure fans. Amidst concerns that the franchise might be fading away, Chee's message was one of hope and empowerment: "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."

This week, EA announced a restructuring at BioWare, shifting the studio's focus exclusively to Mass Effect 5. As a result, some developers from Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to different projects at other EA studios. Notably, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, transitioned to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. However, others were not so fortunate, as several team members were laid off and are now seeking new opportunities.

The decision to pivot away from Dragon Age came after EA revealed that The Veilguard had underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players during the recent financial quarter—a figure significantly lower than the company's expectations. It's important to note that EA did not clarify whether this number represents unit sales, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard was also accessible through EA's Play Pro subscription service. Additionally, it remains unclear if the 1.5 million includes players who tried the game via the free trial offered through the EA Play subscription.

The combination of EA's announcement, BioWare's restructuring, and the layoffs has led to widespread concern among the Dragon Age community, with many fearing the end of the beloved series. To add to these concerns, there are no plans for additional DLC for The Veilguard, and BioWare's development on the game concluded with its last major update last week.

Despite these challenges, Sheryl Chee, who transitioned from BioWare to work on Iron Man at Motive, shared a message of resilience on social media. Reflecting on the difficulties faced by her team over the past two years, Chee emphasized the enduring spirit of the Dragon Age community. In response to a fan lamenting the series' supposed demise, Chee highlighted the fan-created content, such as fan fiction and art, as proof that Dragon Age lives on through its fans. She quoted Camus, saying, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," underscoring the idea that the essence of Dragon Age cannot be owned by a corporation but thrives through the creativity and connections fostered by its community.

Chee's sentiment was echoed when a fan announced plans to write a large alternate universe (AU) story inspired by Dragon Age, illustrating the ongoing inspiration the series provides. Chee expressed her honor in having contributed to a series that continues to inspire such creativity.

Dragon Age first captivated audiences with Dragon Age: Origins in 2010, followed swiftly 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. In a revealing statement, former executive producer Mark Darrah disclosed that Dragon Age: Inquisition had surpassed 12 million in sales, greatly exceeding EA's projections.

While EA has not officially declared the end of Dragon Age, the future of the series appears uncertain, particularly with BioWare's complete focus now on Mass Effect 5. EA has confirmed that a "core team" at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is currently developing the next game in the series. Although specific numbers were not disclosed, EA assured that the studio has the appropriate team size and roles to advance Mass Effect at this stage of development.