Former BioWare Developer Reassures: 'Dragon Age Isn't Dead, It's Yours Now'

In the wake of recent layoffs at BioWare, which affected numerous key developers of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, a former writer on the series, Sheryl Chee, has stepped forward to reassure fans. Amidst concerns about the future of the franchise, Chee emphasized that Dragon Age remains alive through the dedication and creativity of its fanbase. "DA isn't dead because it's yours now," she stated, highlighting the enduring impact of the series on its community.

This week, EA announced a restructuring of BioWare to exclusively focus on Mass Effect 5. As a result, some developers from Dragon Age: The Veilguard have been reassigned to other projects within EA's studios. For instance, John Epler, the creative director of Veilguard, has moved to work on Full Circle's upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. However, other team members have been laid off and are now seeking new opportunities.

The decision comes after EA revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell short of their expectations, engaging only 1.5 million players in its recent financial quarter—a figure that was nearly 50% below projections. It's important to note that EA did not specify whether this number represents unit sales, as The Veilguard was also available through EA's Play Pro subscription service. Additionally, the inclusion of players from a free trial offered through the EA Play subscription remains unclear.

The combination of EA's announcement, the restructuring of BioWare, and the layoffs has led to widespread concern among Dragon Age fans that the series may be nearing its end. There are no plans for DLC for The Veilguard, and BioWare concluded its work on the game with its final major update last week.

Despite these developments, Sheryl Chee, now working on Iron Man at Motive after her transition from BioWare, remains hopeful. She shared her sentiments on social media, reflecting on the challenges faced by her team over the past two years. In response to a fan expressing the series' supposed demise, Chee countered with an inspiring message: "DA isn't dead. 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."

Chee's words resonate deeply with the community, encouraging fans to continue creating and sharing their own stories and art inspired by Dragon Age. She quoted Albert Camus, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," to underscore the resilience and spirit of the fanbase. Her message was further reinforced when a fan announced plans to write a giant alternate universe (AU) story, prompting Chee to affirm that the series' legacy lives on through such creative endeavors.

The Dragon Age series began with Dragon Age: Origins in 2010, followed 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. Former executive producer Mark Darrah disclosed in September that Dragon Age Inquisition had exceeded expectations by selling over 12 million copies.

While EA has not officially declared the Dragon Age series dead, the current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the restructuring of BioWare suggest that new Dragon Age titles may be a distant prospect, if they materialize at all. EA has confirmed that a core team at BioWare, led by veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is actively developing the next Mass Effect game. According to EA, the team is appropriately sized for the current stage of development, though specific numbers have not been disclosed.