Dragon Age Series Faces Uncertain Future Amidst Layoffs and Departure of Veteran Developers
Las Vegas, NV - January 31, 2023
The future of the Dragon Age series has become uncertain as BioWare has recently laid off a significant portion of its team, including veteran developers responsible for previous installments. This downsizing follows the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, raising concerns about the studio's long-term strategy.
According to former BioWare consultant Mark Darrah, this marks the first time the studio has solely focused on one major project. While Darrah optimistically predicted that developers would be retained or reassigned within Electronic Arts (EA), many have since departed.
Among those leaving is Trick Weekes, the writer behind beloved characters such as Mordin in Mass Effect and Iron Bull and Solas in Dragon Age: Inquisition. The loss of talent has left many fans despondent and questioning the studio's decision-making.
Michael Douse, publishing director of Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios, expressed outrage over EA's layoffs in a series of posts. Douse argues that dismissing experienced developers between projects hinders institutional knowledge retention, which is crucial for future development. He emphasizes that cost-cutting measures should not be prioritized over long-term strategy and emphasizes that "the problems lie higher up the food chain."
Douse further suggests that the layoffs reflect a pattern of behavior by EA, citing former Dragon Age series writer David Gaider's departure due to "quiet resentment" towards its writers. This phenomenon, known as "enshittification" or "platform decay," occurs when growth pressure and shareholder demands lead to a decline in quality and service.
The departures and uncertainty surrounding Dragon Age have raised concerns about the future of the series and the industry as a whole. Whether BioWare can reclaim its former glory remains to be seen, leaving fans eagerly awaiting updates on the development process.