Former BioWare Dev Reassures Fans: 'Dragon Age Isn't Dead, It's Yours Now'

Recent layoffs at BioWare have sparked concern among fans of the *Dragon Age* franchise, especially following the underperformance of *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*. Despite EA’s decision to restructure the studio and shift focus primarily to *Mass Effect 5*, former *Dragon Age* writer Sheryl Chee has offered a heartfelt message to the community, emphasizing that the spirit of *Dragon Age* lives on—not just within the walls of BioWare, but in the hearts and creativity of its fans.

EA’s restructuring saw many key developers from the *Veilguard* team either reassigned to other EA studios or unfortunately laid off. Among those reassigned, John Epler, the game’s creative director, was moved to work on *Skate*, a new skateboarding title from Full Circle. Meanwhile, Sheryl Chee, who served as a senior writer on *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*, transitioned to Motive Studio to work on the upcoming *Iron Man* game.

Dragon Age Underperformance

EA cited underwhelming performance for *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*, stating that the game had “engaged” 1.5 million players during the latest financial quarter—nearly 50% below internal projections. However, EA did not clarify if this number represented actual sales or included players who accessed the game via EA Play Pro or a free trial through EA Play. This lack of transparency has left many fans uncertain about the game’s true reception.

Adding to the concern, there are no plans for DLC, and the final major update for *The Veilguard* has already been released, signaling the end of active development. For many, this marks the symbolic end of an era for the franchise.

A Message of Hope from Sheryl Chee

Despite the uncertainty, Chee offered a message of resilience and hope in response to a fan who expressed sadness over what they believed was the death of *Dragon Age*. In a heartfelt social media post, she acknowledged the emotional toll of the past two years at BioWare but also expressed optimism for the future of the franchise:

“DA isn't dead. There's fan fiction. There's fan art. There are 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 went on to celebrate the creativity of the fanbase, expressing pride in being part of a franchise that continues to inspire new stories and artistic expression. Her words resonate deeply with a fanbase that has waited nearly a decade between major entries in the series.

A Legacy That Endures

The *Dragon Age* series began in 2010 with *Dragon Age: Origins*, followed by *Dragon Age 2* in 2011. *Dragon Age: Inquisition* launched in 2014 and went on to sell over 12 million copies, far exceeding EA’s internal expectations. The long gap between releases and recent developments have left many wondering if the franchise will see a new installment anytime soon.

For now, BioWare’s focus has fully shifted to *Mass Effect 5*, with a core team led by veterans from the original trilogy, including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, Parrish Ley, and others. EA has stated that the team size is appropriate for the current development stage, though no further details were shared.

While the future of *Dragon Age* at BioWare remains uncertain, the passion of its community ensures that the series will continue to live on in new and meaningful ways.