BioWare’sDragon Agefranchise has reached a crossroads. WhileDragon Age: The Veilguardearned many positive reviews and was even named Game of the Year byTimemagazine, its sales failed to meet EA’s expectations. This disappointment, combined with the near-total departure of the originalDragon Ageteam, has left the series' future in question. Many veteran writers and designers were either laid off or reassigned to theMass Effectteam, leaving only fragments of the original creative vision behind.
Now, withBioWare focused onMass Effect 4, the idea of another studio taking the reins ofDragon Ageseems more plausible than ever. If that happens, a radical approach could preserve the franchise’s spirit while letting it evolve: take a page fromMass Effect: Andromedaand build a spin-off that exists within the universe, but doesn’t carry the burdens of past decisions.
Mass Effect: Andromeda Set A Bold Precedent
Mass Effect: Andromedamoved the franchise light-yearsfrom its original storyline. By setting its narrative in a distant galaxy, it avoided the complex and often contradictory choices of the Shepard saga. While the execution was flawed, the concept was powerful — it created room for new characters, new politics, and a different kind of narrative structure, all while maintaining a familiar tone and gameplay loop.
Dragon Agecould benefit from a similar pivot. Thesecret ending ofThe Veilguard, which teases a catastrophic event, could serve as a natural bridge to a fresh timeline or distant setting. Instead of revisiting Ferelden or Tevinter, a future game might explore uncharted regions like the far reaches of the Fade or even new continents referenced but never seen.
Mass Effect: Andromedaintroduced two playable protagonists, Ryder siblings, offering both gender options and a unique narrative path involving family. A similar yet expanded approach in aDragon Agespin-off could allow players to explore different social classes or cultures, such as the Qunari diaspora or Rivaini mysticism.
Dragon Age Must Learn From Andromeda’s Flaws
AlthoughMass Effect: Andromedahad a strong premise, its rushed development cycle undermined the final product. Animation bugs, underdeveloped characters, and a story that felt unfinished left some fans disappointed. The game launched before it was ready, the result of internal studio conflict and pressure from EA to meet deadlines.
IfDragon Agefollows the same structural path, it must avoid the same pitfalls. That means giving the new team (whether BioWare or a partner studio) the time and resources to polish the game properly.Andromedawas also criticized for lacking emotional weight compared to its predecessors. ADragon Agespin-off cannot afford to neglect character writing, party dynamics, or the nuanced morality that defines the series.
Feedback loops can dramatically shape games post-launch. Despite its rocky start,Andromedaeventually improved through patchesand community feedback. A newDragon Agegame could benefit from early player engagement and longer preview cycles, similar to how Larian Studios developedBaldur’s Gate 3through early access.
Dragon Age Should Explore Andromeda’s Combat Shift
Combat was one ofMass Effect: Andromeda’s strengths, even if the rest of the game stumbled. Its real-time, high-mobility system featured jump jets, biotic chaining, and weapon variety, offering players freedom to experiment with loadouts and tactics.Dragon Age: The Veilguardmoved toward a similar combat identity, prioritizing responsive controls, combo-based damage, and skill wheel integration.
A futureDragon Agetitle should go all-in on its chosen combat style. If it wants to pursue action systems, it needs to fully support them with responsive AI, impactful animations, and gear that meaningfully changes playstyles. If it returns to atactical structure likeDragon Age: Origins, it must commit to slower, party-oriented gameplay.Andromeda’s downfall wasn’t its mechanics; it was a mismatch between gameplay innovation and undercooked storytelling. ADragon Agespin-off has a chance to unify both.
Dragon Age Could Thrive With A Fresh Start
LikeAndromeda, a newDragon Agegame should consider breaking from the baggage of legacy choices.The Veilguardhandled this issue by softening the impact of world-state carryovers, but it still operated under the expectation that players would remember everything from past titles. A clean slate would allow new fans to jump in and give the developers narrative freedom without alienating veterans.
There’s precedent for this working.Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, developed by Respawn, carved out its own canon space while delivering tight action and focused storytelling. If EA lets a new studio approachDragon Agein the same way, the result could be a revitalized franchise that remains true to its tone, but no longer chained to two decades of decision trees.
