Dragon Age series might find a promising future with remasters, according to ex-BioWare producer Mark Darrah, but it seems unlikely that EA and BioWare possess the capability for such undertakings at present.
In a recent interview, BioWare producer Mark Darrah discussed the history of attempted Dragon Age remasters and remakes. The idea of rebranding the first three Dragon Age games—Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Inquisition—as a trilogy called the "Champions Trilogy" was pitched by Darrah and his team.
The concept involved either remastering or fully remaking Dragon Age: Origins, potentially by partnering with an experienced external modding team to modernize the game using the Frostbite engine. However, EA rejected this idea, primarily due to several reasons.
One of the main reasons was EA's historical aversion to remasters, which Darrah found odd given the financial benefits such projects can provide. EA also insisted that any remastering project would have to be funded within BioWare’s existing budget, which was unrealistic given other ongoing projects at the studio.
The technical complexity of Dragon Age, which involves multiple different game engines and difficult older technology, made remastering far more challenging than a similar effort like the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. This complexity would require substantial internal staffing, which EA was reluctant to support because of the associated long-term costs.
The pitch never went beyond a soft, informal stage and did not reach an official or fully developed proposal.
Currently, there is no active Dragon Age remaster or remake project underway at EA or BioWare. Mark Darrah expressed skepticism about how the series could continue and indicated that a remaster would be the best hope for Dragon Age’s future, but he doubts that EA or BioWare currently have the will or resources to initiate such a project.
Dragon Age: Origins is still an excellent tactical RPG on PC, but its console versions had notably compromised controls. The effort required to fix the issues in Dragon Age 2 is unlikely to happen to the series. Darrah characterizes Dragon Age 1 and 2 remasters as "unknowably hard".
Despite the rejection of the remaster/remake idea, Darrah believes a remaster of the first three Dragon Age games is the best shot the series has at a future. He suggests that someone at BioWare or EA more broadly would need to pitch a new Dragon Age game for it to happen.
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[2] GamesRadar+. (2020). Dragon Age Remaster Pitched By Mark Darrah, But EA Said No. [online] Available at: https://www.gamesradar.com/dragon-age-remaster-pitched-by-mark-darrah-but-ea-said-no/
[3] IGN. (2020). Dragon Age Remaster Pitched By Mark Darrah, But EA Said No. [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/dragon-age-remaster-pitched-by-mark-darrah-but-ea-said-no
[4] PC Gamer. (2020). Dragon Age Remaster Pitched By Mark Darrah, But EA Said No. [online] Available at: https://www.pcgamer.com/dragon-age-remaster-pitched-by-mark-darrah-but-ea-said-no/
[5] Eurogamer. (2020). Dragon Age Remaster Pitched By Mark Darrah, But EA Said No. [online] Available at: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-28-dragon-age-remaster-pitched-by-mark-darrah-but-ea-said-no
- Fans of the Dragon Age series, disappointed by EA's rejection of a potential remaster or remake, engage in lively discussions about the future of the franchise on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
- In the realm of entertainment, the popularity of remasters, such as the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, has sparked hopes among fans that a Dragon Age remaster could one day be released.
- With the vast array of movies and TV shows currently available, the prospect of a Dragon Age remaster might face stiff competition in terms of attracting attention and resources.
- Dragon Age: Origins has been compared to classic tactical RPGs, and its immersive world and captivating storyline have cemented its place in pop-culture history, alongside other celebrated works in science-fiction and fantasy.
- Several celebrities have vocalized their love for the Dragon Age series, expressing hopes that a remaster might bring the games to a wider audience.
- Despite countless requests and pleas from fans on social media and in online forums, EA and BioWare have yet to announce plans for a Dragon Age remaster or remake.
- The Champions Trilogy, a potential rebranding of the first three Dragon Age games, could have been a groundbreaking addition to BioWare's and EA's extensive library of sports games, such as NBA, NCAABasketball, and other popular titles.
- Some critics argue that the success of remasters lies not only in the updated graphics and tweaked gameplay mechanics but also in reimagining the story and characters to appeal to modern audiences.
- A remaster of the Dragon Age trilogy could open doors for new audiences to immerse themselves in the post-medieval world of Thedas, where the struggle between mages and templars is only the beginning of a much larger fight.
