BioWare has officially pulled the plug on the planned Dragon Age 2: The Exalted March DLC, with series executive producer Mark Darrah confirming that the team is instead shifting its attention to the next game in the series. The news came initially from Darrah's Twitter and was later followed by a full statement on the studio's official forums.
A third Dragon Age game was pretty much a foregone conclusion, though this is the closest we've heard yet to actual confirmation that it's coming down the pipe soon. To be clear, Darrah's says that "we're moving the entire team's focus to the next phase of Dragon Age's future." In other words, it's not 100 percent confirmation that the next game to bear the title Dragon Age will cap off the trilogy.
Darrah goes on to talk about how a lot of thought has been put into the series over the past year. "We've spent a lot of time both going back to the 'BioWare vault' of games and re-exmaining them, and looking at some new possibilities that today's industry allows." He then asks for feedback from the fan community, opinions on where you all would like to see the series go next.
You can't really fault the move here. Dragon Age 2 did a lot of things better than the previous game did, but plenty of criticisms have been leveled at the structure and scope of its story, the frequently re-used interior locations, and an overall lack of polish. In short, the second game left many with the feeling that it had been rushed through development.
As far as the Exalted March DLC goes, Darrah offered no details. It's not happening now so it's largely a moot point, but perhaps we'll see some of the defunct expansion's story elements roped into the next game. You can be sure that we will hear more from BioWare at E3 2012.
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erielectric
Why does no one talk the repetitive talent trees in dragonage II? Having to waste three to four talent slots to actually select a move that is worth something is disappointing. The warrior trees were just pathethic. They need to fix those things before they start working on open worlds or anything of that nature. The only new specialization on the game has only good move in the complete tree which is the gravitic ring move. Blowing and pulling people around the screen all the while doing little damage.
Zenjack
I think Bioware has had the unfortunate accident of falling onto the bandwagon of bad press. At this point the cool thing for obnoxious trolling fanboys to do is complain about how bad Bioware is and how they can do no right. It's as much BS bitching as it is actual criticism and that's unfortunate as it isn't at all constructive. I am a huge fan of both the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. I liked a lot about DA2 and though I agree it felt rushed I hope they combine the better elements of DA2 and DAO when they design DA3. As for the whole Mass Effect 3 ending. It wasn't that bad! I also think that the fact people started complaining three whole days after the games release puts it into perspective. I just can't see how a game like Mass Effect can be truly enjoyed in a 72 hour period which tells me that rushing through it for bragging rights was more important that actually playing the game. Now you may commence with the flaming. Have a good day.
timfads
It's not a trilogy, its an ongoing series
Ihatethatguy
let made say this Dragon Age is one of the worst games I ever played
DarthHerter
screw cancelling the dlc cancel the dragon age franchise, because it seem like bioware put more time and effort in to mass effect than this. if they won't put the time and make a great quality game like the mass effect trilogy, they should scrap it all together. if dragon age was on par with mass effect, i think it could be a better game than mass effect.
EKG
Wow. Bioware is doing absolutely everything it can to destroy its reputation, isn't it? Allowing themselves to be swallowed whole and pimped out by EA was probably a terrible decision, as now EA is attaching the Bioware name to every game under the sun, even games that Bioware has nothing to do with. They are just taking dev houses that had nothing to do with Bioware, and renaming them Bioware.
And Bioware is just as guilty. The completely streamlined tragedy that was Mass Effect 2 was a massive, massive letdown. And Mass Effect 3 felt rushed and incomplete. No side quest? I mean, other than scanning planets. No mission variety either. Every level boiled down to walking straight and shooting stuff.
Oh, and I loved how they cut corners by re-purposing multiplayer maps as single player levels and calling it a day. The Bioware we once knew is dead. Like Rare, they are no more. Time to move on.
lisquid
In what way was DA2 better than DA? I'm not trolling. I just want to see what peoples opinions are. I can't really think of any is all. In terms of DA2 DLC i expressed my opinion about it by not buying any because I didn't want to relive the emotional trauma brought about by playing as "Hawk." Hopefully DA3 goes back to Grey Wardens or something more exciting.
jlg68
My emotional bank account is overdrawn... I believe they need to take back the reigns from EA... So far from the merger the Dr's got more rich while their games became poor... There needs to be a job at bioware that allows them to get feedback before the games are released... When, it comes the games, the last thing they need right now is a pack of yes men telling them that there crap don't stink no matter how much it looks and smells like fecal matter... I am sick to death of every time we give feedback to Bioware some how they complain about the level of intelligent life playing there games... I think the cancellation of the DLC is telling when they say f it... Lets try something else... If it's not broke don't fix it... Did you run into someone at EA telling you your games were broke? You had a great formula back in the day. Remember who you were... Because, this is not working...
KingGainerXan
"the frequently re-used interior locations"
Yes, the One Cave to ruin them all.
willywong
I'm not one to Complain about little things As long as my guy can talk and they make the Mage coo I'll be fine And the mass effect ending wasn't bad as you all say the game has like six alt endings Get over it
vaajtswv
Hopefully they'll put in some real effort into this one. DAII just had the same three/four rehash scenes over and over and over... again. Talk about wanting money for nothing.
crocodilius
the only real beef i can think of with dragon age
is that the rogue is generally the only character
worth playing. both 1+2 have hot girls to pine over,
some dragons to kill, overpowered mages to piss you off...
hmm, didnt they also say DA3 will me like Skyrim?
thats one thing bioware hasnt done yet is a real and full world..
all the mass effects, star wars filled with loading screens..
and in dragon age you always quick travel, theres no
actual traveling.
im trying to remember what neverwinter nights was like...
i just keep thinking of collecting those items for Aribeth
and really wanting to kill her for being all high-and-mighty.
bolo73
Bioware can do what ever they want. Just don't count me as one of there followers anymore. After ME 3 and DA 2 I will never buy there stuff until read the reviews then either buy it or leave it.
darthd4ve
"capping off the trilogy?" Dragon Age isn't intended as a trilogy last I heard. They do need to step up their game with DA3 if they want to go beyond that though.
jdronin
I think EA told them they have to bring their A-game to the next dragon age because of these Mass Effect 3 Shenanigans. Plus DA2 had some serious problems as well.
zeinternetz
Shifting focus to the next game is probably a good thing. As fun as it is to play DA2 with a Felicia Day companion for a bit, all of the DAO and DA2 DLCs so far have been terribly short.
jinkoku
This is no surprise as I am a huge DA fan. I did all the crap before DA:2 came out to get free perks and DLC. And then I started to play the game found that I was having more problems than ever. Human only theme, Useless AI interactions (directing troops to fight strategically when enemies just spawn out of no where in waves), and the list goes on. I waited and wait with my original saved game from the first DA only to be referenced as a Myth in polite conversations.
I am still a fan, I will wait for their updates and new stuff.. but @AmericanKing01 you said it best.. they will make sure to be careful with the current ME:3 situation going on.
edendane
dragon age 2 was not a "bad" game it just got shoehorned into the production schedual, wish always causes problems
AmericanKing01
While I never got into the Dragon Age series, but wanted to, I honestly think than fans could not want to buy this game with the tast of Mass Effects 3 ending beings so fresh in everyone's mind. But I could be wrong.
Displaying 1–19 of 19