Summary
- After BioWare undergoes restructuring, key devs from the Dragon Age series are no longer at the studio.
- One writer says that the series belongs to the fans now, suggesting that we won’t get another game for some time – if at all.
- This has the community mourning, and thanking the devs who made the series what it was.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for Dragon Age fans. Last summer, BioWare and EA built significant anticipation for the long-awaited fourth installment, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. After a decade of waiting, the game finally arrived—only to receive a mixed reception from players. Still, it marked the long-awaited conclusion to a story set up in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Now, in the span of a week, everything has taken a dramatic turn. Reports confirm that The Veilguard underperformed by EA’s expectations, attracting 1.5 million players instead of the projected 3 million. In response, BioWare has undergone a major restructuring, which, unsurprisingly in today’s gaming industry, has resulted in layoffs. As a result, the studio’s workforce has reportedly shrunk to fewer than 100 employees.
BioWare has reportedly shrunk to less than half its size compared to two years ago, with its focus now solely on the next Mass Effect game. This shift has left Dragon Age fans deeply concerned about the franchise’s future. With many key writers departing and only a small team remaining for Mass Effect 5, it seems increasingly unlikely that BioWare has the resources to work on a new Dragon Age installment anytime soon. Adding to the uncertainty, one former writer has even stated that the series now belongs to the fans, leaving the community in a state of mourning.
Dragon Age Fans Fear The Series Is Over, Thank Devs For Their Work
It’s unclear where the series goes from here
Extremely sad that Dragon Age is on ice, so I just wanna say thank you to every single developer that helped work on the Dragon Age series. The writers, designers, animators, programmers, etc. Thank you for Dragon Age â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/dhgabLzg7Q — Kala Elizabeth (@kalaelizabeth) January 29, 2025
Fans are expressing their sympathy on social media for the developers affected by the situation at BioWare.
Content creator Kala Elizabeth shared her appreciation for the team behind Dragon Age, saying, “Extremely sad that Dragon Age is on ice, so I just wanna say thank you to every single developer that helped work on the Dragon Age series. Thank you for Dragon Age.”
Tributes like these highlight the impact the series has had on its community and the gratitude fans feel toward its creators.
Note
To make matters worse, The Veilguard was setting up a new story.
Many in the community share this sentiment. Twitter user @Pani_Artz expressed optimism, stating, “The fans will keep the franchise alive.
” Meanwhile, Reddit user Valuable-Owl9985 voiced support for the developers, saying, “My heart goes out to all the developers who worked on this game and received nothing but poor treatment from EA and their higher-ups. Dragon Age wouldn’t be the same without them, and I hope they move on to much greener pastures beyond EA.”
BioWare has undergone significant changes over the years, and the struggles within the studio are not new. Many former employees, including those who left between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, have spoken about the challenges faced by the team. Notably, former Dragon Age lead David Gaider once revealed that BioWare’s higher-ups “quietly resented” the writers, hinting at long-standing internal tensions.
The development of The Veilguard itself reflects these struggles. The game emerged after two previous attempts at a fourth Dragon Age installment were scrapped—one being a traditional single-player RPG and the other a multiplayer-focused experience. Ultimately, The Veilguard was built upon the remnants of the latter.
As for BioWare’s future, much remains uncertain. A new Mass Effect game is in development, but it’s clear that the studio has evolved significantly from its earlier days. Fans can only wait to see how these changes shape its upcoming projects.