2024 was an incredible year for BioWare and Dragon Age: The Veilguard fans. Many were skeptical that Dragon Age 4 would ever manifest, but it did, drawing a close to Solas’ plan to tear down the Veil and setting up the future of the franchise. Now, fans can only hope that they don’t have to wait another ten years for the next Dragon Age game. BioWare is, of course, hard at work on its next title, the next Mass Effect game, and it seems likely that the next Dragon Age game would come after. Still, both franchises paint a pretty picture for the future of BioWare.
The role 2025 will play in that remains to be seen, but based on its development cycles, the direction for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and what’s known about Mass Effect 5 so far, it does seem like it will be a quiet year. For instance, it seems like the year will be more akin to 2020-early 2023 than it will be late 2023-2024. This is normal for any studio, but fans should make sure they keep expectations in check going into next year.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Support Will Come to an End, Sooner Rather Than Later
Many fans want Dragon Age: The Veilguard to get DLC, if only to spend a little more time in Northern Thedas, but BioWare has reiterated time and again that there is no DLC currently in the works. Sure, BioWare could change its mind, but that isn’t likely to drop in 2025 if development has not already begun. And if it’s not going to drop in 2025, it doesn’t seem likely to happen at all. On top of that, many BioWare devs have seemingly been reassigned, either to work on Mass Effect 5 or to assist EA Motive with Iron Man. As a result, it seems things will slow down for Dragon Age: The Veilguard in 2025, as is natural for a single-player game.
Fans can probably expect a couple more updates in the new year, perhaps even a handful, but by the end of 2025, it seems likely that BioWare will be full steam ahead on Mass Effect 5. As it stands, most of its resources are likely aimed in that direction, as is. One thing that would be great to see added to Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the Golden Nug, and that’s probably as big as any update for the game will be, if that. Still, fans have a new Dragon Age game after years of waiting, and that itself is a reason to enter 2025 happy.
Once I have completed every romance in The Veilguard, I intend to do a complete Dragon Age run sometime next year: Dragon Age: Origins + DLCs (and obviously Awakening), Dragon Age 2 + DLC, Dragon Age: Inquisition + DLC, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. It is a long journey but one that will no doubt be fun with the new context provided by The Veilguard.
Dragon Age Day 2025?
Beyond updates, BioWare will likely celebrate Dragon Age Day all the same. This year all eyes were on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, even for N7 Day, so fans should probably expect smaller, more franchise-wide announcements and events. It is a full year away, of course, but BioWare will likely have something for fans. Fingers crossed for maybe the World of Thedas Vol. 3 announcement, but ultimately, the further into 2025 we get, the quieter fans can expect BioWare to be on the Dragon Age front.
- Franchise
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Dragon Age
- Released
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October 31, 2024
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- OpenCritic Rating
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Strong
What’s Known About Mass Effect 5 Development
The inverse is that fans can reasonably expect BioWare to be a little more vocal about Mass Effect 5 the further fans get into 2025. This will likely be marginal, but as BioWare’s focus shifts, so too will its marketing. It’s not like BioWare has been entirely quiet on the Mass Effect 5 front, giving a few updates here and there. Hopefully, BioWare continues to be open and transparent about its development, as the BioWare blog released a few details about Dragon Age: The Veilguard long before full marketing kicked up.
The most concrete update BioWare fans have received was the N7 Day blog back in 2022, which said that “pre-production development has been proceeding very well.” It is uncertain how far Mass Effect 5 has come since then, and while it’s possible it has entered full development since then, that’s impossible to know for sure. Some reports indicate that it is intended to enter full development in 2023, but whether that happens or not is up in the air. Hopefully, at the very least, fans can expect a development update in 2025 – especially with this pre-production development, the various teases, and the team’s shift after The Veilguard.
Already, fans have been treated to several teasers about Mass Effect 5 over the years, typically during N7 Day or at The Game Awards.
Mass Effect 5 Teaser Recap
- BioWare confirmed Mass Effect 5’s development in 2020.
- Some concept art and the teaser trailer with Liara were shown in 2020.
- N7 Day 2021 released the Geth crater poster, suggesting they survived the events of Mass Effect 3.
- N7 Day 2022 showcased a Mass Relay seemingly being rebuilt.
- N7 Day 2023 showcased someone walking, a mention of the Andromeda Galaxy, and teases of Epilson.
- Previously, one Mass Effect teaser showed Andromeda and the Milky Way, with a dev describing it as “intentional.”
- Speculation and insight into all of these teasers have been rampant for years.
Mass Effect 5 Should Make *An* Appearance in 2025
With the focus at BioWare shifting toward Mass Effect 5, fans should receive some sort of update in 2025. This will most likely be dependent on how far into development the game is, but at the very least, fans can perhaps expect a blog update, a tease for N7 Day, and/or something at The Game Awards 2025. Notably, fans should expect these updates later in the year (though, again, dependent on how far into development it is), but at least an appearance or two is a reasonable expectation. The depth of these showcases, however, should come without expectations. The first one, which could also be the only one, would set the tone for reveals in 2025 and suggest what comes thereafter in terms of how much BioWare is ready to show.
- Franchise
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Mass Effect
- Released
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May 14, 2021
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- OpenCritic Rating
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Mighty
The Future of BioWare
Back in 2021, BioWare canceled all updates on Anthem. Anthem was, for many, the biggest disappointment to come out of the studio, even more so than Mass Effect: Andromeda. Some still wanted BioWare to fulfill the IP’s potential, but the decision was made to focus the studio on Dragon Age and Mass Effect, as well as providing support and updates for Star Wars: The Old Republic. While saddening, it was an understandable move. BioWare regained some lost goodwill with Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and while Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not a perfect game, it is a solid, great, fantastic entry in the franchise. The needle, if it moved at all, could only shift toward the positive after The Veilguard‘s release. In 2023, it was announced that BioWare was handing off Star Wars: The Old Republic to Broadsword, freeing up resources and suggesting its future relies on its flagship single-player IPs.
It’s impossible to predict accurately what even happen in 2025, instead hoping and managing expectations, but based on all the developments of the last few years, it would seem that BioWare’s focus continues. Fans can expect Mass Effect 5 as its next game, and presumably, the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect games beyond that. Smaller projects may happen between any of these, but that’s hard to say for sure. BioWare has previously expressed interest but also outlined how difficult it would be to make a “Legendary Edition” for Dragon Age, and it’s doubtful the studio ever returns to Anthem. At the same time, this also means that BioWare probably won’t pursue any new IP–at least for some time. It’s a mixed bag and has been for many years, but BioWare’s resilience over the past few years should be applauded.
Fans have rightfully been concerned about it for years, but it’s moving in the right direction. 2025 seems set to be more of that, and hopefully, BioWare’s focus on its flagship IPs will continue that momentum over the next couple of years. Not without its own wounds, BioWare has so far survived through one of the most trying times the industry has ever seen and, seemingly and hopefully, come out the other side. Thriving comes after surviving, and hopefully, BioWare continues to thrive by doing what it does best: making worlds, characters, and stories that return that hope to fans.
