Former BioWare developers have weighed in on the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA CEO Andrew Wilson's subsequent comments. Wilson attributed the game's failure to not resonate with a broad enough audience, citing a shortfall of nearly 50% from projected player engagement figures (1.5 million players engaged during the recent financial quarter). This followed EA's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, resulting in staff transfers and layoffs.
IGN previously reported on The Veilguard's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered the game's completion a miracle given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed. Wilson suggested that future BioWare RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to achieve broader success. He acknowledged the game's positive critical reception but emphasized its failure to reach a wider audience in a competitive market.
Many interpreted Wilson's comments as suggesting that incorporating shared-world features and increased engagement could have boosted sales. However, as previously reported by IGN, a development reboot shifted The Veilguard from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG.
Former BioWare employees took to social media to express their opinions. David Gaider, former narrative lead on Dragon Age, criticized EA's takeaway from The Veilguard's performance, suggesting that simply adding live-service elements is short-sighted. He argued that EA should instead focus on the core strengths of the Dragon Age franchise, drawing parallels to the success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, which, while featuring co-op, is primarily a single-player experience. He advised EA to double down on what made Dragon Age successful in the past.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed a stronger stance, stating he would have resigned if pressured to fundamentally alter a successful single-player IP into a purely multiplayer game.
The events surrounding The Veilguard's release effectively signal the apparent demise of the Dragon Age franchise for now, with BioWare fully committed to Mass Effect 5, led by a team of series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield acknowledged the changing industry landscape and the financial performance of The Veilguard, emphasizing the reallocation of resources to projects with higher potential.
