Creator says that Dragon Age lacks direction at EA

The way the distributor has treated the medieval fantasy universe has always been the underdog when compared to the affection received by Mass Effect, the other crown jewel of the developer. According to the writer, the multinational viewed the space saga as a modern, dynamic, and commercially appealing product, while the sword-based RPG was internally labeled as an outdated and overly text-dependent structure. This managerial short-sightedness hindered the evolution of combat mechanics, which oddly fluctuated between the strategic slowness of the first title and exaggerated speed in the sequels. Watching suit-clad executives apologizing for a creative team's commercial successes just because the game exceeded the mediocre expectations of spreadsheets is the type of attitude that drains any artist's energy.

The revelations about the behind-the-scenes of this troubled commercial relationship were disclosed by David Gaider, the main narrative architect of the franchise during BioWare's golden period. In a statement to PC Gamer, the professional was adamant that he doesn't see a future for the intellectual property under Electronic Arts's leadership, revealing that the production was constantly surviving under the looming threat of cancellation. The project only progressed because the launches delivered sales figures much higher than the directors anticipated, causing repeated astonishment in the central offices.

“I enjoy a challenge. So, if by some bizarre alignment of the stars someone were to hand me the Dragon Age franchise back and say, 'bring this baby back to life,' it would be tough, but I think it would be an interesting endeavor. Returning to the basics of what attracted so many to Dragon Age, going to a dark and dangerous place, doing things that will unsettle people. I think that's what I would like to do with it.”

This chronic misunderstanding of the work's identity has lingered since the marketing campaign of the legendary Dragon Age: Origins. The writer bitterly recalled the infamous promotional trailer set to a song by Marilyn Manson and focused on gratuitous visual violence, a misguided marketing strategy that tried to push a dense and mature tactical RPG as if it were a youth-oriented product aimed at shocking. Distancing himself from the corporate ecosystem was the decision the writer made right after completing Dragon Age: Inquisition, leaving the development team even before officially parting ways with the Canadian studio.

Hearing the outpouring of someone who carried Thedas's lore on their shoulders highlights how the industrial model of major publishers stifles intellectual properties that require depth. Knowing the original author would accept to take the reins back to revive the visceral and unsettling atmosphere of the origins brings a mix of nostalgia and frustration, especially because we know the holding company is unlikely to relinquish control of its brands. As long as corporate leadership insists on turning complex narratives into bland quick-consumption experiences to please investors, fans of classic RPGs will have to settle for seeing their favorite franchises kept on standby in the market's freezer.