
Dragon Age: Origins took some big swings when it came to letting players, as the future Hero of Ferelden, make such a big mark on the world, changing the fates of individuals and nations. And BioWare felt free to give players this kind of agency, this ability to shape the story, because it didn't expect to make more Dragon Age games.
This is according to former executive producer Mark Darrah, who recently gave a wide-ranging and candid interview to MrMattyPlays. Darrah was at BioWare between 1998 and 2022, so he had a front row seat to all of its dizzying highs and depressing lows.