Mark Darrah Says New Dragon Age Game is Unlikely

Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah stated that a new entry in the Dragon Age fantasy RPG series is unlikely for the foreseeable future. Speaking with FRVR, Darrah cited the commercial disappointment of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which sold 1.5 million copies—roughly half of the expectations set by Electronic Arts.

Darrah described a difficult internal culture at Electronic Arts where executives fight for control over established intellectual properties. He suggested that BioWare employees are unlikely to pitch a new title and that personnel at the studio might sabotage efforts if another internal studio attempted to develop a Dragon Age game to maintain control over the IP. Former lead writer David Gaider also expressed reluctance to return to the series, citing a historical lack of faith from the publisher.

Currently, BioWare has shifted its focus to a new Mass Effect project. Darrah characterized Electronic Arts as possessing a frightening number of dormant IPs, describing the company as a hedge fund with a video game hobby that it wishes it did not spend so much money on.