BioWare's Future: A Troubled Horizon for Dragon Age and Mass Effect
The gaming landscape is questioning BioWare's future after the disappointing reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This article explores the issues surrounding the franchise's uncertain future and the concerns regarding the next Mass Effect installment.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, intended as a triumphant return to form, instead received a Metacritic score of a mere 3/10 from 7,000 players, with sales falling significantly short of EA's projections. This failure has cast a shadow over BioWare's RPG projects.
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Table of Contents:
- The Long Road to Dragon Age 4
- Key Departures at BioWare
- Dragon Age 4 Mimicked Mass Effect, but Failed
- Is Dragon Age Dead?
- What About the Next Mass Effect?
The Long and Winding Road to Dragon Age 4:
Development of Dragon Age 4 spanned nearly a decade, marked by numerous shifts and limited progress. Initial plans, following the success of Dragon Age: Inquisition, envisioned a 2019-2020 release, followed by a fifth installment within 1.5-2 years, and a concluding sixth installment by 2023-2024. However, resource allocation to Mass Effect: Andromeda in late 2016 derailed this ambitious plan. Andromeda's failure led to the disbanding of BioWare Montreal, and many staff members shifted their focus to Anthem. From 2017 to 2019, Dragon Age 4 existed primarily as a concept, handled by a small team.
EA's embrace of live-service games in 2017 further complicated development. The project, codenamed "Joplin," was reimagined as a live-service title. However, Anthem's failure in 2019 prompted a return to a single-player focus, resulting in the project being renamed "Morrison." This shift incurred significant time loss and required rebuilding teams. The game was finally announced as Dreadwolf in 2022, with a subsequent subtitle change reflecting narrative adjustments. The Veilguard launched on October 31, 2024, to disappointing sales despite positive critical reception.
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Key Departures at BioWare:
The Veilguard's poor performance triggered a major restructuring at BioWare, leading to significant staff changes, including several key departures:
- Patrick and Karin Weekes: Veteran writers with over two decades at BioWare.
- Corinne Bouche: Game director for DA: The Veilguard.
- Cheryl Chi: Responsible for beloved characters from previous Dragon Age games.
- Silvia Feketekuti: Known for writing iconic characters.
- John Epler: Creative director.
- Other notable departures included producers Jennifer Shaver and Daniel Sted, narrative editor Ryan Cormier, and senior product manager Lina Anderson.
The BioWare workforce significantly shrunk, though the studio remains open. Resources have been redistributed, with some developers moving to other EA projects.
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Dragon Age 4's Failed Attempt to Mimic Mass Effect:
Interviews revealed that The Veilguard drew heavily from Mass Effect 2, particularly its companion system and approval mechanics. While some elements, such as the final act, were successful, the game fell short as a standalone RPG and a Dragon Age title. World state customization was limited, ignoring past player choices. The story avoided direct connections to previous entries, negatively impacting established characters. Dialogue systems lacked depth and consequence, resulting in a linear narrative. Ultimately, The Veilguard succeeded as an action-adventure game but failed as a compelling RPG and a Dragon Age title.
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Is Dragon Age Dead?
EA's leadership suggested that The Veilguard might have fared better as a live-service game. Financial reports highlighted successes in other areas, but neither Dragon Age nor Mass Effect were prioritized. While the future of the series is uncertain, former writer Cheryl Chi emphasized that the spirit of Dragon Age lives on through fan engagement. Any revival would likely take years and potentially involve a significant format shift.
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What About the Next Mass Effect?
Mass Effect 5, announced in 2020, is currently in pre-production with a reduced team. Michael Gamble leads the project, alongside other key personnel. The game aims for greater photorealism and is expected to continue the original trilogy's storyline. However, given the studio restructuring and extended production cycles, a release before 2027 is unlikely. The hope is that it avoids the developmental pitfalls of The Veilguard.
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