Following layoffs at BioWare impacting key Dragon Age: The Veilguard developers, a former writer offered reassurance to fans, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now."
This week's EA restructuring prioritized Mass Effect 5, reassigning some Veilguard staff to other EA studios (Game Developer reported John Epler's move to Full Circle's Skate project). However, other developers were laid off. This followed EA's announcement of Veilguard's underperformance, citing 1.5 million player engagement during the recent quarter—significantly below projections.
It's unclear if this figure represents unit sales or includes EA Play subscriptions and free trials. Regardless, the announcement, BioWare's restructuring, and layoffs fueled fan concerns about the series' future. No DLC is planned for The Veilguard, and BioWare's work concluded last week with what appeared to be a final major update.
Sheryl Chee, a senior writer on The Veilguard, now at Motive Studios working on Iron Man, shared a message of hope on social media. Acknowledging the difficult past two years, she emphasized the enduring power of fan contributions. Quoting Camus, she highlighted the fans' ability to keep the spirit of Dragon Age alive through fan fiction, art, and community engagement. She stressed that while EA/BioWare owns the IP, the core idea remains with the fans.
"DA isn't dead because it's yours now," she declared, further emphasizing that fan creations inspired by the series demonstrate its lasting impact.
Dragon Age, launched in 2010 with Origins, followed by Dragon Age 2 (2011) and Inquisition (2014), saw a decade-long gap before The Veilguard's release. Mark Darrah, former executive producer, revealed in September that Inquisition sold over 12 million copies, exceeding EA's projections.
While EA hasn't officially declared Dragon Age dead, the future of the franchise seems uncertain given BioWare's restructuring and its focus on Mass Effect 5. EA assured IGN that Mass Effect 5's development has a "core team" of veterans from the original trilogy, stating they have the "right number of people in the right roles."
