Dragon Age Fans Face Disappointment: No Remasters on the Horizon

In a recent chat, Mark Darrah, the mastermind behind Dragon Age, dropped some disappointing news for fans of the series. It seems that the chances of getting remastered versions of the first three games are pretty slim. For fans like us, that’s definitely a letdown!

Darrah highlighted a big roadblock: “There’s basically no one at BioWare anymore who knows how to work with the Aurora engine.” Unlike Mass Effect, which is built on the more accessible Unreal Engine, the Aurora engine is a dying breed. This means that BioWare can’t just hand over remaster duties to another studio; if it happens, it has to be them.

Before leaving BioWare in 2020 after a lengthy 23-year run, Darrah had some exciting plans for a “Champion’s Edition” that would bundle remasters of Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. “That was my dream,” he reminisced. “We wanted to create a trilogy vibe, giving these titles a fresh lease on life.”

Both Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 were crafted using the Aurora engine, which is a bit of a relic now. The expertise to work with it has dwindled since it was specifically developed for BioWare’s games. While Dragon Age: Inquisition uses an earlier version of the Frostbite engine, BioWare can’t just hire a third-party studio to spruce up the first two games. It’s all or nothing with the original team.

Game preservation is a hot topic these days, especially with Sony pushing towards a digital-only future. While that’s understandable, it feels like the conversation is missing a key point: remasters are essential for keeping the spirit of games alive. Over time, many classics become hard to access due to disc rot, compatibility issues, or simply outdated gameplay mechanics and graphics. Newer gamers might find older titles way too challenging or visually unimpressive to dive into.

Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 could really use a facelift—both in terms of gameplay and graphics. But the current state of BioWare makes it nearly impossible to remaster these classics. Internal disagreements during the development of Inquisition and the recent Dragon Age: The Veilguard led to many talented developers leaving the studio, further complicating any hopes for remasters.

To add to the woes, EA recently laid off a significant number of employees, including those who worked on Veilguard. The game launched to mixed reviews, and EA has since acknowledged its struggles, leading to even more team reductions. As it stands, less than a hundred developers are left at BioWare, most of whom are now focused on the upcoming Mass Effect 5. Fans are left wondering if this next installment will repeat the controversies of Mass Effect: Andromeda.

Sadly, the only way we might see a remastered version of Dragon Age: Origins or Dragon Age 2 would be if EA decides to invest in a full remake, similar to what Bloober Team did with Silent Hill 2. However, remakes come with a heftier price tag compared to remasters, and given BioWare’s current troubles, the studio’s future may depend on how well Mass Effect 5 is received.

On a brighter note, there’s a glimmer of hope for other franchises. Bethesda recently dabbled in remastering the classic Elder Scrolls title, Oblivion, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. They’ve even hinted at remastering other beloved titles like Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Fingers crossed that EA takes a page from Bethesda’s book and decides to bring back some of our favorite Dragon Age games in a modern format!