BioWare, once a titan in the RPG world, finds itself at a crossroads. The future of Dragon Age hangs in the balance, casting a shadow over the anticipated next Mass Effect. This article explores the issues plaguing the studio and the uncertain path ahead.

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 half of EA's projections paint a bleak picture. The future of BioWare's RPG projects, including Dragon Age and the next Mass Effect, is now shrouded in uncertainty.

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 was a tumultuous journey spanning nearly a decade, marked by numerous shifts and limited progress. Following the success of Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mark Darrah, then overseeing the series, laid out an ambitious plan in 2016: 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 stature of The Elder Scrolls, with EA committing significant investment. However, this plan crumbled at the end of 2016 when resources were diverted to Mass Effect: Andromeda, developed by BioWare Montreal. Andromeda's failure led to the studio's disbandment, and many staff members shifted their focus to Anthem. Consequently, from 2017 to 2019, Dragon Age 4 existed primarily on paper, overseen by a small team.

In 2017, EA embraced the live-service model, envisioning Dragon Age as a constantly updated, multiplayer-focused title (codenamed Joplin). However, Anthem's failure in 2019 prompted BioWare to convince EA to return to a single-player focus. This pivot resulted in significant time lost and the need to rebuild teams (project renamed Morrison). 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 major restructuring at BioWare, resulting in employee reassignments, layoffs, and the departure of several key figures:

• Patrick and Karin Weekes: Veteran writers with over two decades at BioWare. Patrick's contributions include scripts for Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, and Inquisition, and he served as lead writer for The Veilguard.
• Corinne Bouche: Game director for DA: The Veilguard, who left in January 2025.
• Cheryl Chi: Known for her work on characters like Leliana and Cullen, moved to Motive Studio.
• Silvia Feketekuti: Known for Liara and Josephine, left after 15 years.
• John Epler: Creative director, transitioned to Full Circle.

Other notable departures include producers Jennifer Shaver and Daniel Sted, narrative editor Ryan Cormier, and senior product manager Lina Anderson. BioWare's workforce reportedly shrank from 200 to fewer than 100 employees. While layoffs are common after unsuccessful releases, resources have been redistributed, 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 system and approval mechanics. The game aimed for impactful choices and a finale reminiscent of ME2's Suicide Mission. Inspired by Mass Effect 3's Citadel DLC, lighthearted banter was incorporated. However, simply borrowing successful mechanics proved insufficient. Despite promises of deep characters and impactful choices, Dragon Age 4 fell short, lacking the depth of both Mass Effect and previous Dragon Age titles. World state customization was limited, and the Dragon Age Keep save editor became irrelevant. The story avoided direct ties to previous entries, harming the portrayal of familiar characters like Morrigan and Solas. The game also lacked the series' hallmark complexity, resulting in a linear narrative and superficial treatment of key themes.

The Veilguard ultimately excels as an action-adventure game but fails as an RPG and, more critically, as a Dragon Age title.

Is Dragon Age Dead?

EA CEO Andrew Wilson suggested The Veilguard might have fared better as a live-service game. CFO Stuart Kent noted its underperformance against competitive single-player RPGs. EA's Q3 2024 financial reports highlighted successes in sports titles and investments in Battlefield Labs, with neither Dragon Age nor Mass Effect mentioned, suggesting a shift in priorities. While John Epler and Corinne Bouche expressed interest in expanding the Dragon Age universe, their departures cast doubt on these ambitions. If the series returns, it will likely take years and potentially adopt a different format. Former writer Cheryl Chi aptly summarized the sentiment: "Dragon Age isn't dead. Fanfiction, fan art, and connections forged through the games keep it alive."

What About the Next Mass Effect?

Mass Effect 5, announced in 2020, is currently in pre-production. With a reduced team, it represents BioWare's sole large-scale project. Michael Gamble leads the development, alongside designer Dusty Everman, art director Derek Watts, and cinematic director Parry Ley. Unlike The Veilguard, Mass Effect 5 aims for greater photorealism. Plot details remain scarce, but it appears to continue the original trilogy's storyline, potentially linking to Andromeda. Due to studio restructuring and extended production cycles, a release before 2027 is unlikely.