Shutdown of online services for Dragon Age: Inquisition on PS3

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that the online services for the PlayStation 3 version of Dragon Age: Inquisition will be discontinued on April 28, 2026. This decision will primarily affect the multiplayer component of the game, but questions have also arisen about the future of Dragon Age Keep, a feature that allowed players to import their world state for use in the game.

Impact of the shutdown

The closure of online services means that PS3 players will no longer be able to participate in the multiplayer portion of Dragon Age: Inquisition. This multiplayer segment allows players to team up to defeat various enemies in cooperative missions. While it was never the main draw of the game, which is known for its extensive single-player experience, it did provide an extra layer of interaction for fans of the franchise.

It is important to note that only the PS3 version will be affected; players on other platforms, such as PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox, will not experience any disruptions from these changes. Most players regard Dragon Age: Inquisition primarily as a single-player RPG, meaning the impact on the broader player base will be relatively limited.

What will happen to Dragon Age Keep?

With the upcoming shutdown, there is uncertainty regarding the status of Dragon Age Keep, the online service that helps players manage their world state and influence the story in Dragon Age: Inquisition and its successors. Although no official statements have been made by BioWare or EA regarding the future of this service, it is advisable for players to save or back up their data in case the functionality is lost after the shutdown.

EA's trend in shutdowns

The cessation of online services is not uncommon for EA, which has previously shut down multiple titles, including five earlier games in 2026. Such decisions are sometimes driven by declining player activity, making it increasingly difficult for studios to justify the costs of servers, maintenance, and security. These closures are part of a broader pattern of cost management within the gaming industry, where older titles and technologies are ultimately sacrificed for efficiency considerations and changing player needs.

Future of the Dragon Age franchise

While Dragon Age: Inquisition was a major success in 2014, winning awards from both critics and players, the future of the franchise remains uncertain. The upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the successor to Inquisition, has undergone a lengthy development cycle. Additionally, recent mass layoffs at BioWare have raised concerns about the prospects for the game's future and the franchise as a whole.

Players and fans of Dragon Age remain hopeful that key storylines and characters, such as Solas, will be further explored in upcoming titles, but the wait for further announcements will have to continue.