Ex-Dragon Age Exec changes game moments
Twenty years is a long time to dedicate to a single universe, and when that time is spent building world-class fantasy franchises, you start to develop a unique perspective. Mark Darrah, a former executive and director of the celebrated Dragon Age series, has taken a moment to reflect on the games he helped shape, offering a candid peek into what he would change if he were given the keys to remake the experience.
After departing BioWare in 2021, Darrah returned as a consultant in 2023, lending his seasoned eye to the franchise during its final development stages. Now, he has distilled his thoughts into a compelling Q&A, exploring the facets of the four main Dragon Age titles and revealing exactly where he would make adjustments to create an ideal fantasy adventure.
Looking back at the history of the series, Darrah addressed specific pain points and opportunities across the timeline. For Dragon Age: Origins, he admitted that some content felt like padding. He suggested cutting or significantly reducing the dream sequence content in the Mage Tower, noting that it was “filler” that didn’t ultimately deliver great impact.
Beyond trimming the fat, Darrah suggested enriching the world with more options. He envisioned adding extra character origins, including another human background, and potentially introducing the Avvar race to broaden the scope of player choice.
The narrative choices in Dragon Age 2 also drew his attention. Darrah felt the ending forced players into an unsatisfying dichotomy between the Templars and the Mages. He proposed a fundamental shift: regardless of the path chosen, he suggested the narrative should confirm that the Mages ultimately lose control, thereby validating Meredith’s position, making the outcome feel less like a forced choice and more like an inevitable conclusion.
Moving on to Dragon Age: Inquisition, Darrah focused on pacing. He aimed to streamline the experience by drastically speeding up the critical story path and reducing the time spent in sprawling areas like the Hinterlands. He suggested excising entire zones, like the Hissing Wastes, and cutting the required power for critical path missions, arguing that this would lead to a much better-paced game.
Finally, when discussing the latest installment, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Darrah addressed the lore repository. He advocated for adding back the Keep, the previous cloud-based location where players managed their choices throughout the franchise, emphasizing the value of retaining that history.
While the future of the Dragon Age universe remains a closely guarded secret, BioWare is now focused on other ambitious projects, primarily on building the next Mass Effect game. Despite the shifts in development focus, Darrah’s reflections ensure that the legacy of the beloved fantasy series continues to inspire every time the franchise is revisited.
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