Following layoffs at BioWare affecting key Dragon Age: The Veilguard developers, former series writer Sheryl Chee offered reassurance to fans. This week's EA restructuring prioritized Mass Effect 5, reassigning some Veilguard staff to other EA studios, while others faced layoffs following the game's underperformance. EA reported 1.5 million players engaged with Dragon Age: The Veilguard during the recent quarter, significantly below projections. The figure's ambiguity, encompassing potential free trials and EA Play subscriptions, adds to the uncertainty.
The news, coupled with BioWare's restructure and confirmed layoffs, fueled concerns within the Dragon Age fanbase about the series' future. The lack of planned DLC for The Veilguard and the conclusion of BioWare's work on the game solidified these fears.
However, Chee, now working on Motive's Iron Man project, shared a message of hope on social media. Acknowledging the difficult past two years and team attrition, she emphasized her continued employment and referenced Albert Camus' quote, "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer," highlighting the community's resilience. Chee asserted that while EA/BioWare owns the IP, the core ideas behind Dragon Age belong to the fans, who can keep the spirit of the series alive through fan fiction, art, and continued engagement. She highlighted fan creations as evidence of the series' enduring impact.
Dragon Age's history spans from 2010's Dragon Age: Origins to 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition, which, according to former executive producer Mark Darrah, sold over 12 million copies, exceeding EA's projections. The Veilguard's release marked a decade-long gap between sequels.
While EA hasn't declared Dragon Age dead, the future of the series remains uncertain given BioWare's restructuring and its complete focus on Mass Effect 5, which is being developed by a core team of veterans from the original trilogy. EA assures sufficient staffing for Mass Effect's development, though specific numbers remain undisclosed.
