Fans hoping for an immediate follow-up to the Dragon Age series may need to adjust their expectations. Mark Darrah, a former BioWare executive producer who spent 23 years at the studio, recently shared that he does not anticipate another entry in the franchise anytime soon.
Speaking in an interview with FRVR, Darrah explained that the franchise currently appears to be sidelined. He cited BioWare’s ongoing work on its next Mass Effect game as a primary factor for the shift in studio focus. Beyond internal project prioritization, Darrah noted that the nature of how EA manages its intellectual property suggests the series may remain dormant for the foreseeable future.
What This Means for the Franchise
Darrah’s comments provide a look into the long-term planning cycles at BioWare. As the studio concentrates its resources on Mass Effect, the institutional process required to greenlight a new Dragon Age project creates a significant hurdle for any immediate return to the series.
For those looking back at the foundation of the series, Dragon Age: Origins (2009) remains the most critically acclaimed entry, holding a 91 Metacritic score across its original release on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. However, based on Darrah’s assessment, the path to a new installment involves more than just critical interest, as it must navigate EA’s specific internal requirements for pitching and approving new games.