Dragon Age Remasters Were Rejected By EA, According To Series Veteran

EA’s Bizarre Stance on “Free Money”

Darrah recently opened up in an interview, revealing that BioWare made numerous pitches to EA for a Dragon Age Origins remaster or even a full-blown remake. However, EA, in its infinite wisdom (cue eye-roll), shot them down. Why? According to Darrah, EA has historically been “kind of against remasters.” Yes, you read that right, a publicly traded company is allegedly against a product type often seen as “easy money.”

Now, if we were to play Devil’s Advocate for EA (ugh, do we have to?), there are technical challenges here. Darrah explained that remastering Dragon Age would be trickier than something like Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Why? Well, Mass Effect was built entirely in Unreal Engine, making the remastering process relatively straightforward and even outsource-able. On the other hand, Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age II use entirely different engines, which isn’t exactly a recipe for a smooth remake. Still, isn’t that what money is for? Oh wait, EA’s allergic to “spending money.”

BioWare’s Eagerness That Wasn’t Enough

Darrah shared that some ideas floated around, including recruiting a talented studio to handle the heavy lifting while BioWare focused on overseeing the project. One potential avenue was building the project using Frostbite tools and handing over development to an external team. But, surprise! The resources weren’t there because BioWare was already juggling other projects.

And this is the kicker. EA’s attitude was essentially, “Go ahead and do it… with the money you already have.” Which, unsurprisingly, wasn’t feasible since BioWare was knee-deep in other work. File this one under “How To Dismiss a Revenue Stream 101.”

Why Dragon Age Deserves the Remaster Treatment

The lack of remasters for Dragon Age Origins and its sequels is particularly frustrating for fans. Unlike Mass Effect, whose remaster gave it a shiny second wind, Dragon Age Origins remains stuck in a nostalgic time capsule. Unfortunately, many modern gamers missed out on its brilliance simply due to its age and lack of modernization.

Here’s what a remaster could have offered:

• Controller Support for Origins and Dragon Age II on PC (seriously, why does this still not exist?).
• Updated visuals worthy of today’s 4K monitors.
• Enhanced quality of life improvements (say goodbye to those clunky UIs).
• Modern console compatibility without having to jump through hoops or dust off decade-old systems.

Origins was a defining RPG of its time, with complex moral choices, memorable characters, and a killer combat system. And yet, EA didn’t see its potential for revival, even as fans and developers practically begged for it.

Fans Speak Out

The fan reaction is as predictable as a dragon showing up in a game about dragons. While some argue that modern BioWare might botch the project (a not entirely unfair concern given recent history), most agree that an Origins remaster would be a slam dunk.

Take it from fans who’ve dusted off their nostalgia goggles to replay Origins on aging PCs. Sure, the story holds up, but the dated graphics and lack of accessibility make it hard to recommend to modern players. One fan called it “a Baldur’s Gate 3-level game,” and honestly, with the current surge in interest for hardcore RPGs post-BG3, EA’s missed opportunity feels even more glaring.

What’s Next for Dragon Age?

The Dragon Age franchise seems stuck in limbo, like a rogue caught in dialogue but without enough dexterity to escape. Dragon Age Dreadwolf is still supposedly in development, though recent news has been… well, quiet. Combine this with the disheartening remaster news, and fans are understandably skeptical about what the future holds.

Meanwhile, EA’s decision not to greenlight the remaster remains baffling. For a company that throws resources at forgettable live-service games, investing in a proven hit with a passionate fan base seems like the obvious play.

Closing Thoughts

Could an Origins remaster or remake sell well? That’s a debate for the suits at EA to figure out, not us. Some fans worry modern BioWare would mess it up, while others dream of the day Dragon Age gets the treatment it deserves. Either way, “Dragon Age Remasters Were Rejected by EA” is one headline we wish we never had to read.

The appetite for this type of RPG hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, it’s stronger than ever, thanks to the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3. EA’s decision to ignore this is just another reason fans feel frustrated with how gaming’s corporate overlords make decisions.

Here’s hoping someone at EA wakes up one day, smells the coffee, and realizes they’re sitting on a goldmine of goodwill and revenue. Until then, I guess we’re all still stuck playing Origins on dusty old rigs and dreaming of what could have been.

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