BioWare's future hangs in the balance, casting a shadow over the anticipated next Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles. Let's examine the factors contributing to this uncertainty.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, intended as a triumphant return to form, instead delivered a critical and commercial disappointment. A Metacritic score of a mere 3 out of 10, based on 7,000 user reviews, and sales figures halved from projections paint a bleak picture. The future of BioWare's RPG projects, including the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises, is now shrouded in doubt.
Table of Contents
- 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 spanned nearly a decade, marked by numerous setbacks and shifting directions. Initially conceived following the success of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mark Darrah's ambitious 2016 plan envisioned a 2019-2020 release for Dragon Age 4, followed by a fifth installment within 1.5-2 years, and a concluding sixth installment by 2023-2024. BioWare aimed to elevate Dragon Age to the level of The Elder Scrolls, with EA committing substantial resources. However, this plan derailed in late 2016 when resources were redirected to Mass Effect: Andromeda. Andromeda's failure led to the disbanding of BioWare Montreal, and many staff members transitioned to Anthem. Consequently, Dragon Age 4 languished, primarily existing on paper with a small team from 2017 to 2019.
In 2017, EA's embrace of live-service games led to a reimagining of Dragon Age as a live-service title (codenamed Joplin). However, Anthem's failure in 2019 prompted a return to a single-player focus, resulting in the project's renaming to Morrison. Significant time was lost, requiring team rebuilding and shifting priorities. In 2022, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf was officially announced, though the subtitle later changed due to narrative adjustments.
The Veilguard launched on October 31, 2024, receiving positive critical reviews but disappointing sales of approximately 1.5 million copies—nearly 50% below expectations.
Key Departures at BioWare
Following The Veilguard's poor performance, Electronic Arts announced a significant restructuring at BioWare, including reassignments, layoffs, and the departure of several key figures. These departures include veteran writers Patrick and Karin Weekes (over two decades at BioWare), game director Corinne Bouche, Cheryl Chi, Silvia Feketekuti, and John Epler, among others. The BioWare workforce reportedly shrank from 200 to fewer than 100 employees. While layoffs are common after unsuccessful releases, the extent of these departures raises concerns.
While the studio isn't closed, resources have been reallocated, with some developers moving to other EA projects and a smaller team continuing work on the next Mass Effect.
Dragon Age 4 Tried to Mimic Mass Effect but Failed
Interviews with Corinne Bouche and John Epler revealed that The Veilguard drew heavily from Mass Effect 2, particularly its companion relationships and approval systems. The aim was to create impactful choices culminating in a finale similar to ME2's Suicide Mission. Elements inspired by Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC were also incorporated. While some aspects, such as the final act, succeeded, the overall execution fell short. The game lacked the depth and complexity expected of a Dragon Age title, with restricted world state customization and superficial treatment of core themes.
The attempt to borrow successful mechanics from Mass Effect proved insufficient, resulting in a game that excelled as an action-adventure but failed as a compelling RPG and a worthy entry in the Dragon Age series.
Is Dragon Age Dead?
EA CEO Andrew Wilson hinted that The Veilguard might have fared better as a live-service game. CFO Stuart Kent attributed the underperformance to competition within the single-player RPG market. EA's Q3 2024 financial reports emphasized successes in sports titles and investments in Battlefield Labs, with no mention of Dragon Age or Mass Effect, suggesting a shift in priorities.
While the future of Dragon Age remains uncertain, former writer Cheryl Chi's statement—that "Dragon Age isn't dead"—reflects the enduring fan connection to the franchise, despite the challenges facing its future development.
What About the Next Mass Effect?
Mass Effect 5, announced in 2020, is currently in pre-production with a reduced team under the leadership of Michael Gamble. While details are scarce, it aims for greater photorealism and is expected to continue the original trilogy's storyline, potentially connecting to Andromeda. Given the studio restructuring and extended production cycles, a release before 2027 is unlikely.
