Dragon Age Boss says Mass Effect remaster trilogy is impossible

The dream of remastering the beloved Dragon Age trilogy seems to be a distant, perhaps impossible, fantasy for BioWare. Former Dragon Age boss Mark Darrah has put forth a stark assessment, suggesting that creating a modern collection is currently out of reach.

In an interview with FRVR, Darrah addressed the chances of a remastered trio, drawing a sharp distinction between classic franchise revivals and the technical hurdles facing BioWare. While he had previously envisioned a “Champion’s Trilogy” aimed at unifying the three games, that vision has faded into impossibility.

The primary obstacle, Darrah explained, lies in institutional memory. The core problem isn’t just updating graphics; it’s understanding the foundation of the games themselves. Specifically, no one currently at BioWare understands the proprietary “Aurora Engine” that powers the franchise.

This lack of internal knowledge creates a significant roadblock for any potential remaster. Unlike other franchises, such as Mass Effect which utilized Unreal Engine, there are virtually no external companies capable of handling the necessary work because the specialized institutional knowledge has vanished.

“There is basically no one at BioWare anymore that understands the Aurora Engine,” he stated. “There’s basically no one outside of BioWare anymore that understands the Aurora engine. So unlike Mass Effect, which is Unreal… there are basically no companies that could help you.”

The franchise itself boasts a rich history, beginning with Dragon Age: Origins in 2009, followed by Dragon Age 2 two years later, and the sprawling epic Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014.

For a project of this scale to become feasible, Darrah noted, it would require a level of commitment that might deter a major publisher like EA. He suggested that such an endeavor would necessitate diverting resources away from other new projects, which is not a desirable position for a large publishing entity.

This sentiment aligns with broader industry trends. While some games find success through revival, the willingness of publishers to invest in these massive undertakings is often contingent on commercial viability. The disappointing performance of titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard has further complicated the situation, potentially dampening EA’s appetite for reviving the Dragon Age IP in the near future.