Former BioWare developers have weighed in on the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, following EA CEO Andrew Wilson's comments on its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Wilson attributed the game's underperformance to a lack of "shared-world features and deeper engagement," despite acknowledging its high-quality launch and positive critical reception. EA reported only 1.5 million players engaged with Dragon Age: The Veilguard during the recent financial quarter, significantly below projections.
IGN previously documented the game'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's suggestion that shared-world features were key to broader appeal prompted responses from former BioWare employees. 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 a parallel to the success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, a predominantly single-player experience with optional co-op. He advised EA to leverage the existing passionate fanbase by doubling down on what made Dragon Age successful in the past.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed even stronger sentiments, stating he would have resigned if pressured to transform a successful single-player IP into a purely multiplayer game. He highlighted the potential risk of fundamentally altering the core identity of a beloved franchise.
The restructuring of BioWare, now focused solely on Mass Effect 5, has reportedly resulted in significant staff reductions, shrinking the studio to less than 100 people. EA CFO Stuart Canfield framed this decision as a reallocation of resources towards projects with higher potential, reflecting the evolving industry landscape and the challenges of blockbuster storytelling in today's market. The future of the Dragon Age franchise now appears uncertain.
