For years, Dragon Age stood as one of BioWare's most beloved franchises, sparking endless debates over companions, romances, and world-altering choices. Even after a nearly decade-long gap between Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, fans held out hope that the series would enter a bold new chapter. Instead, The Veilguard became one of the studio's most polarizing releases—praised for its combat and payoff to Solas' story, but criticized for its writing, tone, and companions. Commercially, it fell short of Electronic Arts' expectations, leading to a restructuring at BioWare as the studio pivots entirely to the next Mass Effect. With no new Dragon Age project on the horizon, the franchise's future looks uncertain—and the writer who helped build it isn't optimistic.
David Gaider, the former lead writer of the original Dragon Age trilogy, recently spoke with PC Gamer about the series' fate. Gaider, who spent roughly 20 years at BioWare and worked on titles like Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate II expansions, and Anthem, admitted he'd love to revive the franchise if given the chance—but he doesn't see that happening under EA's ownership.
“I do like a challenge. So if, out of some weird alignment of the stars, somebody handed the Dragon Age franchise back to me and said, ‘Breathe the life back into this baby,’ that'd be a tough one, but I think that'd be an interesting thing to do,” Gaider said.
When asked how he would approach a revival, Gaider emphasized returning to the core elements that made the series resonate with fans. “[I'd] go back to the basics of what made Dragon Age appeal to so many people in the first place. And go somewhere dark and dangerous, and do things that will make people upset.”
Gaider also revealed that during his tenure, the franchise was frequently on the brink of being shelved. “From Electronic Arts? Unlikely. Throughout the entire time I was there, we were always one breath away from the project being shelved. The thing that happened is that we kept releasing games, and it would sell much better than they thought it should.”
That trend appears to have ended with The Veilguard, which failed to meet EA's sales expectations. With BioWare now focused on Mass Effect and no new Dragon Age announced, Gaider's comments paint a bleak picture for the fantasy RPG's future. While he still has a vision for where the series could go, he doesn't believe that opportunity will come under its current owner.
For fans hoping to see Thedas again, Gaider's words are a sobering reminder of how corporate priorities can shape—or end—beloved franchises. As the industry continues to evolve, the fate of Dragon Age may ultimately rest on whether EA sees enough value in returning to a world that once captivated millions.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on the future of Dragon Age and other major gaming franchises.
