Former BioWare executive producer expresses that Dragon Age wasn't originally intended as a series, hence leaving numerous storylines from Origins unfinished.
Dragon Age: Origins, initially conceived as a standalone game, has left an enduring impact on the series that continues to this day. The game, developed by BioWare, was designed to deliver a complete, self-contained narrative experience, a decision that would ultimately shape the future of the franchise [1][3].
In crafting Dragon Age: Origins, the developers included a variety of plot threads and world elements that were not intended to be revisited or resolved in sequels. These included widespread werewolves and underground civil wars, creating narrative threads that the developers didn't anticipate expanding upon later [1].
This original approach had significant consequences for subsequent Dragon Age games. The success of Origins led to the creation of sequels, but with a standalone story as its foundation, BioWare was faced with the challenge of retroactively developing a cohesive overarching universe and storyline [1][3]. This resulted in some plot threads being abandoned or awkwardly revisited, leading to a feeling of narrative inconsistency or disjointed storytelling in games like Dragon Age II and Inquisition [1][3].
Despite these challenges, the financial success of Dragon Age: Origins drove the expansion into a series, marking a shift in BioWare's approach towards a more forward-looking franchise mindset after Origins [1].
This explains why the Dragon Age series sometimes feels uneven in story continuity and why BioWare later had to adjust their design philosophy for the franchise [3].
Throughout the evolution of the series, several notable events took place. Mark Darrah, former executive producer at BioWare, worked at the company between 1998 and 2022. Dragon Age: Origins had threads left unresolved due to it being a standalone game. Dragon Age: Inquisition united the journeys of the Hero of Ferelden and Hawke. Dragon Age Keep was an app that imported saves from Origins and Dragon Age 2 into Dragon Age: Inquisition.
However, the development of Dragon Age: Veilguard, the latest instalment in the series, marked a departure from the complex, interconnected narratives of its predecessors. The game was designed to appeal to a broader audience and disconnect from the previous games in the series [3]. This decision, influenced by EA's corporate culture, led to simpler, more people-pleasing games that deviated from the intricate narratives of the past [3].
Despite the success of Dragon Age: Origins, EA, the publisher of Dragon Age, did not fully understand the series, leading to a development process that "wobbled back and forth" due to their influence [3]. The ability to import choices from previous games was a feature in Dragon Age games, until Veilguard. Veilguard did not have a save import feature or a return of Dragon Age Keep, further distancing it from the series' roots [3].
In summary, the initial plan to make Dragon Age: Origins a standalone game resulted in the inclusion of plot threads not meant for expansion in future instalments. This decision, combined with the financial success of the game, led to the creation of the Dragon Age series and the subsequent challenges faced by BioWare in maintaining narrative consistency across games. The development of Dragon Age: Veilguard represents a significant departure from the complex, interconnected narratives of the past, reflecting a shift in approach driven by EA's corporate culture.
