BioWare's Challenges: Dragon Age's Uncertain Future and Mass Effect's Status

The gaming community is abuzz with concerns about BioWare's future, particularly regarding the trajectory of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. Let's explore these issues in depth.

The latest installment in the Dragon Age series, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, was poised to be a triumphant return for BioWare, aiming to reaffirm its prowess in crafting rich, narrative-driven RPGs. However, the game's reception was far from what was hoped for, with a staggering 7,000 Metacritic users giving it a dismal 3 out of 10. Electronic Arts reported sales that were only half of what they had projected, highlighting a significant disconnect between the game and its fanbase.

Currently, the future of BioWare's RPG projects, including Dragon Age, remains shrouded in uncertainty. There is also palpable concern surrounding the development of the next Mass Effect installment.

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Table of Content

• The Long Road to Dragon Age 4
• Key Departures at BioWare
• Dragon Age 4 Tried to Mimic Mass Effect but Failed
• Is Dragon Age Dead?
• What About the Next Mass Effect?

The Long Road to Dragon Age 4

The development of Dragon Age 4 was fraught with challenges and shifts over nearly a decade, with actual progress being limited. It all began with the success of Dragon Age: Inquisition. In 2016, Mark Darrah, then overseeing the series, unveiled an ambitious roadmap:

• A release for Dragon Age 4 was initially targeted for 2019-2020.
• The fifth installment would follow within 1.5-2 years.
• Dragon Age 6 would conclude the trilogy by 2023-2024.

BioWare aimed to elevate Dragon Age into one of the most successful RPG franchises, similar to The Elder Scrolls, with significant investment from EA. However, the plan unraveled by the end of 2016 when resources were redirected to Mass Effect: Andromeda, developed by BioWare Montreal. Andromeda's failure led to the studio's disbandment and the reallocation of many staff members to Anthem, leaving Dragon Age 4 on the back burner from 2017 to 2019.

In 2017, EA embraced the live-service game trend, reimagining Dragon Age as a title with regular updates, multiplayer modes, and long-term monetization. Codenamed Joplin, this version was scrapped after Anthem's failure in 2019, prompting BioWare to convince EA to pivot back to a single-player focus. The project was renamed Morrison, necessitating a rebuild of teams and a shift in priorities.

Dragon Age was officially announced as Dreadwolf in 2022. As its release approached, the subtitle changed due to narrative adjustments, focusing more on the protagonist's team rather than Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf. The Veilguard launched on October 31, 2024, and despite receiving positive reviews from critics, sales were disappointing at just 1.5 million copies, nearly 50% below expectations.

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Key Departures at BioWare

Following The Veilguard's underwhelming performance, Electronic Arts announced a major restructuring at BioWare, resulting in employee reassignments and layoffs. Several key figures left the company, including:

• Patrick and Karin Weekes: Veteran writers who contributed to BioWare for over two decades. Patrick wrote scripts for all parts of Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, and Inquisition. As the lead writer for The Veilguard, he crafted iconic characters like Tali’Zorah, Solas, Cole, Iron Bull, and Taash. His novel, Empire of Masks, set during an Orlesian civil war, further enriched the universe.
• Corinne Bouche, game director for DA: The Veilguard, announced her departure in January 2025, stating she accepted an offer to create a new RPG, acknowledging her role in steering BioWare toward stability.
• Cheryl Chi, responsible for beloved characters such as Leliana, Cullen, Oghren, Isabela, Blackwall, and Harding, moved to Motive Studio.
• Silvia Feketekuti, known for Liara, Josephine Montilyet, and Emmric Volcarin, left after 15 years.
• John Epler, creative director behind Bellerophon and Mass Effect, transitioned to Full Circle to work on Skate.
• Other notable departures included producers Jennifer Shaver (Mass Effect 3, Anthem, Inquisition, Veilguard) and Daniel Sted (Legacy of the Sith, The Veilguard), narrative editor Ryan Cormier, and senior product manager Lina Anderson.

The BioWare workforce dwindled from 200 to fewer than 100 employees. While layoffs are common after unsuccessful releases, they do not indicate the studio's closure. Resources have been redistributed, with some developers moving to other EA projects and a smaller group continuing work on the next Mass Effect under veteran leadership.

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Dragon Age 4 Tried to Mimic Mass Effect but Failed

In interviews with Eurogamer, Corinne Bouche and John Epler discussed their inspirations for The Veilguard, drawing heavily from Mass Effect 2's focus on companion relationships and approval systems. Player choices were intended to shape the outcome significantly, with a finale reminiscent of ME2's Suicide Mission, where interactions determined ally fates.

Additionally, inspired by Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC, the team incorporated lighthearted banter between characters during downtime. Some features were added late in alpha development, leading to rushed refinements. Certain elements succeeded, such as the final act, which stood out due to meaningful decisions affecting factions—a level of depth even Mass Effect 3 lacked.

However, borrowing successful mechanics isn't enough. Despite promises of deep characters and impactful choices, Dragon Age 4 fell short, not only compared to Mass Effect but also as an RPG. World state customization was restricted to events from Inquisition, with minimal carryover from earlier titles. The once-prized Dragon Age Keep save editor tool became irrelevant, disregarding past player choices.

The story avoided direct ties to previous entries to prevent conflicts with established lore. This harmed familiar characters like Morrigan, whose fate depends heavily on prior decisions, and Solas, reduced from antagonist to advisor. Moreover, the game abandoned the series' hallmark complexity. Companions rarely conflicted with the protagonist, and themes like politics, religion, and mage-templar tensions were handled superficially.

Dialogue systems, once central to RPG gameplay, saw reduced variability and consequence. Story branches depended largely on overarching decisions, leaving the narrative feeling linear.

Honesty demands acknowledgment: The Veilguard excels as an action-adventure game but fails as an RPG and worse, as a Dragon Age title.

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Is Dragon Age Dead?

EA CEO Andrew Wilson suggested The Veilguard might have performed better as a live-service game.

"Games must align with modern standards, incorporating multiplayer mechanics and deeper engagement," he noted.

CFO Stuart Kent echoed this, stating the latest Dragon Age underperformed against competitive single-player RPGs.

In Q3 2024 financial reports, EA highlighted successes in sports titles and upcoming investments in Battlefield Labs. Neither Dragon Age nor Mass Effect made the list, suggesting EA prioritizes more profitable ventures while cautiously approaching single-player experiences.

Before leaving, John Epler and Corinne Bouche expressed interest in expanding the Dragon Age universe, exploring untapped areas like the Qunari and dwarves. Yet their departure casts doubt on these ambitions.

If the series returns, it will likely take years and possibly in a transformed format. Former writer Cheryl Chi summed up the sentiment:

Dragon Age isn't dead. Fanfiction, fan art, and connections forged through the games keep it alive. Though rights belong to EA and BioWare, the idea belongs to everyone.

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What About the Next Mass Effect?

Mass Effect 5 was officially announced in 2020 and is currently in pre-production. With The Veilguard released relatively recently, Mass Effect 5 stands as BioWare's sole large-scale project, albeit with a reduced team.

After several key departures, Michael Gamble took over as BioWare's general manager. Joining him are:

• Designer Dusty Everman.
• Art director Derek Watts.
• Cinematic director Parry Ley, known for the original trilogy.

Unlike The Veilguard, Mass Effect 5 aims for greater photorealism. Details about the plot remain scarce, though it appears to continue the original trilogy's storyline, potentially linking to Andromeda. Due to studio restructuring and extended production cycles, the release is unlikely before 2027. Hopefully, it avoids repeating The Veilguard's pitfalls of chaotic development, last-minute changes, and uninspired storytelling.

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