Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the future of the beloved RPG series is uncertain as long as Electronic Arts retains control. Gaider, who was instrumental in shaping the narrative of Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and Dragon Age: Inquisition, shared his candid views in an interview with PC Gamer.
Gaider described how, during his tenure at BioWare, Electronic Arts often treated the Dragon Age franchise as a secondary concern compared to its more action-oriented Mass Effect series. He recalled instances where strong sales for Dragon Age were dismissed as a "fluke," while any underperformance by Mass Effect was met with justifications. This perceived lack of consistent publisher support, he suggests, has hampered the series' potential.
The most recent entry, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, experienced a troubled, nearly decade-long development cycle marked by several shifts in direction. Upon its 2024 release, the game garnered largely positive reviews, with our own assessment noting it as "BioWare at its best." Despite receiving praise and reaching 1.5 million players within its first two months, Electronic Arts declared in February 2025 that The Veilguard had "failed to resonate with a broad enough audience." Following this assessment, the publisher reportedly reassigned several developers from The Veilguard team to other projects, including the next installment in the Mass Effect series.
Despite his dim outlook on the franchise's current trajectory, Gaider expressed that he would be interested in returning to the series, provided Electronic Arts was not involved. He acknowledged the challenge of revitalizing the franchise but sees it as an intriguing prospect. His vision for a future Dragon Age game involves returning to the series' core appeal while also exploring darker, more provocative themes designed to provoke a strong reaction from players. For now, the ultimate fate of the Dragon Age franchise remains a significant question mark within the industry.