Bloomberg: Dragon Age 4 Will Now Be A SP (Non-LS) Game

Amazing news! I thought EA would never let Bioware go back to making single-player games.

That is actually the big question now, isn't it?

If I had to guess, I'd say no, but only because it would mean 6 or 7 years of sunk cost being thrown out completely.  That is expensive, no matter how big you are.

I think they'll keep the bones of what they were working on, and take out things like repeating missions and dailys/weeklys as well as the multiplayer content.  What that will leave to ship?  No idea.

To reiterate a point in the article, the shift seems to have happened months ago, so it’s not something completely recent. And I think the game is quite far from release that the shift isn’t going to worsen things up, in regards of development, that much. But we’ll know more about this this year, by judging what kind of content they’d show us.

Given the shift being a few months ago, it’s possible the last trailer was developed by keeping in mind the new stance, although it did give me some vibe about a live service game.

*Put on tinfoil hat*

We all lamented the departure of Mark Darrah and Casey Hudson. But what if they were the leads pushing hardest for DA4 to be a multiplayer game, and when EA told BioWare to shift focus, they refused?

The fact their departure was announced the day before the unofficial Dragon Age Day celebration might have been symbolic, especially since Darrah doesn't seem to have left to do anything else.

I don't trust anyone whose source of information is the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Whilst I played tons of DAI multiplayer, I am fine with them removing multiplayer from DA. This hopefully ensures it will not be an online only live-service abomination like Anthem.

I don't see it happening either. That requires Bioware actually having a brain. They've proven without doubt that they don't. 

Ah yes, nothing generates good will like pissing off a part of your fanbase like the DA players who enjoyed MP. 

So I have thoughts lol.

1. Being blunt for effect, and lack of a better word, given the insinuation of others around here...was Casey Hudson lying? Granted this was not the entire basis of my pro LS argument, but it was at least somewhat of a thought his rather infamous blog article where he indicated that live service was kind of just about supporting a game after its release rather then anything to do with MP. Though coupled with the fact that other games had adopted similar models...whether they called it LS or not...the argument did seem plausible. This also may add context to his departure from BioWare because now one has to wonder if he was the one pushing LS in the first place.
2. However I can't say that I am the least bit surprised by this. I have been speculating that with the success of AC Odyssey and AC Vahalla (?) that EA might take note and make it entirely a SP project regardless. Looks like I was right.
3. What does this mean for DA 4s dev cycle? This could represent another significant reboot which could push it back. Now I kind of doubt it since LS has nothing too much to do with gameplay per se...again I have always accepted the definition it was about post launch content...but it could have an effect on any number of the games programs or mecanics because that might effect how they balance encounters and the world to encourage long term playability. Also it should be noted that I doubt this means that this means DA 4 is going back to a DAO size world either. That would surprise me.
4. What does this mean for DA 4s post launch cycle? For those who believe that LS is purely about MP this is welcome news...however for those of us who accepted the Hudson et all definition of it being about post launch content this could be alarming. And since none of the tweets or stuff I have read touches on this aspect...its vague enough to be worrying. Will DA 4 get live service style updates by another name? Will DA 4 get traditional BioWare DLC? And given the Jedi Fallen Order was also references will DA 4 actually not get any DLC considering it didn't? Now I know there are those who don't like any DLC...but my own appreciation of the Franchise would be very different without Awakening, Legacy, Descent, and Tresspasser.
Also as a more general concern since live service games can generate a lot of money for the publishers/ devs could this mean that DA 4 won't be as big of a money maker...and thus not get as much monetary support which could effect scope, quality, dev time, etc...which then will just leave us bitching about us getting an inferior product in the end.
5. On the flip side though I think the biggest concern amongst those of us who buy the LS= post launch content argument is that does BioWare have the resources to actually develop one. This could be the best news from this because given Anthem and a few other things I am...skeptical. And while LS could just mean launch a couple of DLC packs and then move on my guess is there would be a lot more to it then just that and well developping more content= more dev resources that Bio might not have been prepared to take on.
6. While these sources tend to have an annoying frequency of being right...this can only be treated with a great big grain of salt. This is not announced by BioWare and while their track record does give them enough credence that this could be accurate...that same track record makes me wonder how much of the specifics they are right on. Especially since these articles seem to be just touching on the MP component of LS, and not the post launch content of LS.

I find a new protagonist for each game to be a smart move which continues what's happened in parts 1-3, BioWare has previously described new protagonists as their preferred approach and it's a good way to allow new players into the franchise.

The fanbase who only came for Dragon Age multiplayer was certainly there but it was smaller than the proportion that came just for Mass Effect multiplayer. I'd guess it was 10% tops. I'd say the proportion delighted by the recent news that we are not getting 'Anthem with dragons' will be considerably greater, so it's a shrewd step.

Had you considered giving it a rest (the next Dragon Age game) as the prospect seems to be making you miserable.

It gives me hope that Patrick Weekes alongside many known and unknown fine writers are certainly capable of crafting first class characters and stories that could sit very well with this SP format.

DA multiplayer was always ... not very good anyway xD