Bioware contemplated financing a team for a remake of Dragon Age: Origins, according to a former executive producer, with numerous proposals put forth to revamp the classic RPG
In the gaming world, rumours of a potential remaster for the classic role-playing game, Dragon Age: Origins, have been circulating for some time. However, neither BioWare nor Electronic Arts (EA) have officially announced any plans for such a project.
According to former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah, the studio had considered the possibility of a remaster for Dragon Age: Origins and even pitched a remaster of the first three Dragon Age games as the "Champions Trilogy" to EA. This project, unfortunately, was ultimately rejected by EA, which reportedly preferred not to invest in remasters.
Darrah recalled an early version of Dragon Age 4, where there was a suggestion to use Frostbite tools and find a talented mod house to remake Dragon Age: Origins. This approach seems to be the opposite of what is typically seen in great RPGs, but it indicates the level of consideration given to the idea.
Interestingly, BioWare has an advantage over Dragon Age in this regard when compared to their Mass Effect series. Darrah mentioned that Mass Effect has an advantage over Dragon Age when it comes to outsourcing remastering work to external houses.
As for the reasons behind EA's decision, it appears that the company prioritised mainstream success and had reservations about investing in Dragon Age remasters, despite the success of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. This stance was seen as contradictory, especially given the success of the Mass Effect remaster.
With BioWare now focusing on developing Mass Effect 5, a Dragon Age remaster seems less likely in the near future. Nevertheless, fans of the Dragon Age series can take comfort in the fact that the idea of a remaster has been considered and pitched internally, even if it was ultimately not greenlit.
Dragon Age: Origins, which will be 16 years old in November, remains a beloved game in the RPG community. While a remaster may not be on the immediate horizon, the fact that it has been considered at all keeps hope alive for fans of the series.
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- BioWare, the studio behind Dragon Age: Origins, had considered and pitched a remaster of the first three Dragon Age games, known as the "Champions Trilogy," to Electronic Arts (EA), but EA rejected the idea.
- Despite the success of the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Electronic Arts (EA) reportedly prioritised mainstream success and had reservations about investing in Dragon Age remasters.
- In the past, BioWare discussed using Frostbite tools and collaborating with a talented mod house to remake Dragon Age: Origins, an approach atypical for great RPGs but indicative of the consideration given to the idea.
- While Mass Effect has an advantage over Dragon Age when it comes to outsourcing remastering work to external houses, a Dragon Age remaster seems less likely in the near future as BioWare focuses on developing Mass Effect 5.
