Summary
In a recent interview after the launch ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, John Epler discusses the possibility, as well as the potential difficulties, of giving the originalDragon Agegames a remaster. WhileDragon Age: Originsintroduced a modern take on the CRPG genre back in 2009, the series has since evolved in a completely different direction, favoring the combat system of BioWare’s other big franchise –Mass Effect. Unlike its predecessors,Dragon Age: The Veilguardembraced an ARPG identity, and many players have described its gameplay as a blend ofMass Effect 3andGod of War.
ThoughThe Veilguardenjoys largely positive reviewsfrom fans and critics alike, and continues to top the charts across all platforms, the first threeDragon Agegames have a special place in the heart of many a player. BioWare has often been asked about the possibility of remasteringDragon Age: Originsand its sequel, or to even remake them on the Frostbite Engine.
John Epler directly addressed the topic duringhis interview with Rolling Stone, as well as clarified some of the difficulties that BioWare would run into if it attempted to giveDragon Agethe Legendary Edition treatment. Namely, whereas theMass Effecttrilogywas made on the Unreal Engine,Dragon Ageshifted from Eclipse to Frostbite after the second game. “I think I’m one of about maybe 20 people left at BioWare who’s actually used Eclipse,” Epler says. “It’s something that’s not going to be as easy asMass Effect, but we do love the original games. Never say never, I guess that’s what it comes down to.”
BioWare Addresses the Possibility of a Dragon Age Remaster
There is another matter to consider. UnlikeMass Effect, theDragon Ageseries was never quite as confident in its identity. Each subsequent sequel was a major departure from its predecessor, and though it worked well with the franchise’s anthology format, it now makes the idea ofcreating aDragon Ageremastered collectiona far more complicated affair. Not only are there technical hurdles to solve due to a lack of developers familiar with Eclipse, but porting the games over to Frostbite would likely necessitate changes to gameplay.
BioWare confirmed thatDragon Age: The Veilguardwould feature no DLCs and that the team is now committed to developing thenextMass Effectgame. While Epler claims that BioWare has embraced its single-player roots after the player feedback onAnthem, he does point towards games such asFinal Fantasy 14as examples of how a multiplayer title can still tell a strong story. It remains to be seen how BioWare will continue to build upon its beloved IPs, but the success ofDragon Age: The Veilguardhas certainly proven that the world of Thedas is still worth investing in.
