Former Bioware general manager Aaryn Flynn recently shared his thoughts on the Dragon Age series, expressing his belief that the game should have followed a “PC-centric” and mod-friendly approach like previous BioWare fantasy titles. In an interview with Edge magazine, Flynn discussed his fondness for Neverwinter Nights, a game that encouraged community engagement and modding.
Flynn stated that BioWare wanted modders to have the ability to create the same experiences as the developers themselves. He expressed disappointment that this approach wasn’t maintained in subsequent Dragon Age titles, such as Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Flynn believed that the series became too similar to BioWare’s Mass Effect franchise, rather than embracing the modding-driven spirit of Neverwinter Nights.
Dragon Age Origins was the exception, as it shipped with a toolset that allowed for modding. However, this trend did not continue in later entries. Flynn acknowledged that the first game in the Dragon Age series had its own identity crises, trying to balance between being a modding-driven game and a single-player RPG akin to The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
Now working as the founder and CEO of Inflexion Games, Flynn expressed his desire for Dragon Age to have maintained a PC-centric and mod-friendly identity. However, it remains to be seen if the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf will return to these roots.
While Dragon Age’s modding potential may be uncertain, another beloved fantasy RPG, Baldur’s Gate 3, is set to receive official mod support in the future, potentially signaling a resurgence of open-ended and mod-friendly RPGs.
Sources:
– Edge magazine interview with Aaryn Flynn
– Personal insights from Aaryn Flynn
