Former BioWare Developer Reassures Fans: 'Dragon Age Lives On Through You'

Following layoffs at BioWare, which saw the departure of many key developers involved with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, former series writer Sheryl Chee has reassured fans by stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."

This week, EA restructured BioWare to focus exclusively on Mass Effect 5. Some developers from Dragon Age: The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA studio projects, such as John Epler, who moved to Full Circle to work on the upcoming skateboarding game Skate. However, others faced layoffs and are now seeking new opportunities.

The restructuring came after EA announced that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had underperformed, with only 1.5 million players engaging with the game during the recent financial quarter—a figure nearly 50% below EA's projections. It's unclear whether this number represents unit sales or includes players who accessed the game via EA's Play Pro subscription service or a free trial through the EA Play subscription.

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

Despite these developments, Sheryl Chee, who transitioned from BioWare to work on Iron Man at Motive, took to social media to offer hope to fans. She shared her experience of the past two years, noting the difficulty of seeing her team diminish but expressing gratitude for her continued employment.

In response to a fan's lament about the series' supposed demise, Chee emphasized the enduring life of Dragon Age through fan-created content such as fiction and art, and the connections formed through the games. She quoted Albert Camus, saying, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," and encouraged fans to keep the spirit of Dragon Age alive through their own creative contributions.

Chee concluded by celebrating a fan's intention to write an alternate universe story, underscoring that if Dragon Age inspires creativity and passion, it continues to fulfill its purpose. She expressed her honor in having been part of the series' journey.

Dragon Age originated 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, was released after a decade-long wait.

Former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah revealed in September that Dragon Age: Inquisition had sold over 12 million copies, significantly surpassing EA's internal projections.

While EA has not officially declared the end of Dragon Age, the focus on Mass Effect 5 and the current state of BioWare make the future of the series uncertain. EA confirmed that a dedicated team at BioWare, including veterans from the original Mass Effect trilogy, is working on Mass Effect 5 under the leadership of Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others. EA emphasized to IGN that the studio has the appropriate team size and roles for the current stage of Mass Effect's development.