Dragon Age trilogy remaster “wouldn’t be easy”, because hardly anyone at BioWare knows how its old engine works

Following a seemingly strong launch for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, there’s most likely a good few collection newcomers contemplating delving into the unique trilogy. However anybody hoping for a Mass Impact: Legendary Version type remaster should not maintain their breath; Dragon Age: The Veilguard inventive director John Epler says the challenge “would not be straightforward” as a result of hardly anybody left at BioWare is aware of how the studio’s previous engine works.

Mass Impact: Legendary Version was well-received when it launched again in 2021, introducing the likes of improved efficiency and visuals, enhanced fashions, new lighting, gameplay tweaks, and extra. It was a welcome finessing of a basic trilogy, and the sort of therapy most would most likely agree BioWare’s different beloved collection deserves.

Nonetheless, in a current interview with Rolling Stone (thanks PC Gamer), Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd inventive director John Epler – who’s been with BioWare because the unique Dragon Age’s launch again in 2009 – famous that whereas he’d like to see the trilogy get the remaster therapy, it will be a problem because of the video games’ proprietary engines.

In contrast to the Mass Impact trilogy, which was developed in Unreal Engine 3, Dragon Age Inquisition was created utilizing EA’s Frostbite engine, whereas Dragon Age 1 & 2, extra problematically, had been constructed utilizing BioWare’s personal Eclipse Engine. “I believe I am certainly one of about perhaps 20 folks left at BioWare who’s truly used Eclipse,” Epler defined. “[Remastering Dragon Age is] one thing that is not going to be as straightforward Mass Impact, however we do love the unique video games.”

However there’s maybe some small hope for Dragon Age followers, given Epler did not completely shut down the thought. “By no means say by no means,” he added, “I assume that is what it comes right down to.”

In fact, EA’s curiosity in giving Dragon Age the Legendary Version therapy – and certainly its persevering with curiosity within the collection as an entire – will possible hinge on the success of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which appeared to get off to a strong begin when it launched final week. The writer hasn’t but trumpeted any official figures, however The Veilguard did handle an all-time peak of 89,418 concurrent gamers on Steam, setting a brand new report for a single-player EA recreation.

What meaning for The Veilguard’s future is unclear, however talking forward of launch, Epler mentioned BioWare’s “full consideration… has shifted completely to the subsequent Mass Impact”, that means it had no DLC plans, past “quality-of-life enhancements and a handful of smaller content material updates”.

No matter what occurs subsequent, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a little bit of a deal with. “What BioWare has managed to perform right here, within the face of all of the strain it is confronted since Dragon Age: Inquisition got here out 10 years in the past, is extraordinary,” Eurogamer’s Robert Purchese wrote in his 5 star assessment. “The Veilguard is exquisitely realised and filled with sophistication throughout programs and storytelling. It is heat and welcoming, humorous and hopeful, light when it must be, and naturally it is epic – epic in a means I believe will set a excessive bar not just for BioWare in years to return however for role-playing video games normally. That is among the many perfect of them.”