Following layoffs at BioWare impacting key Dragon Age: Dreadwolf developers, a former writer offered reassurance to fans, stating, "DA isn't dead because it's yours now." This follows EA's restructuring of BioWare to prioritize Mass Effect 5, resulting in some Dreadwolf team members transferring to other EA studios, while others were laid off.
This restructuring came after EA announced that Dragon Age: Dreadwolf underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter – significantly below projections (a near 50% shortfall). It's unclear if this figure represents unit sales, incorporates EA Play Pro subscriptions, or accounts for a free trial period offered through EA Play.
Regardless, the announcement, BioWare's restructuring, and confirmed layoffs fueled concerns within the Dragon Age community that the franchise is effectively defunct. No DLC is planned for Dreadwolf, and BioWare's work on the game concluded recently with what appeared to be its final major update.
However, Sheryl Chee, a senior writer on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf who transitioned to Motive Studio to work on Iron Man, offered a message of hope on social media. She acknowledged the challenging past two years, but emphasized her continued employment. Responding to a fan expressing grief over Dragon Age's perceived demise, Chee highlighted the power of fan contributions:
"DA isn't dead. There's fic. There's art. There's the connections we made through the games and because of the games. Technically EA/BioWare owns the IP but you can't own an idea, no matter how much they want to. DA isn't dead because it's yours now."
Chee further explained that fan-created content, such as AU stories, embodies the spirit of Dragon Age and fulfills its purpose. She considers it an honor to have been part of a franchise that inspires such creativity.
The Dragon Age series began with 2010's Dragon Age: Origins, followed by Dragon Age 2 (2011) and Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014). The latest installment, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, arrived a decade after Inquisition. In contrast to Dreadwolf's performance, former Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah revealed in September that Dragon Age: Inquisition sold over 12 million copies, exceeding EA's internal projections.
While EA hasn't explicitly declared Dragon Age dead, the future of the franchise remains uncertain given BioWare's current focus on Mass Effect 5 and the events surrounding Dreadwolf's release. EA confirmed that a dedicated team at BioWare is developing Mass Effect 5, led by veterans of the original trilogy. They declined to share specific numbers but stated the team is appropriately sized for the current development stage.
