Former BioWare developers have shared their insights on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the recent comments made by EA CEO Andrew Wilson regarding its perceived failure. During a financial call, Wilson stated that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not "resonate with a broad enough audience," indicating that the game fell short of EA's expectations.
Following this, EA restructured BioWare to concentrate solely on Mass Effect 5. This shift resulted in some Dragon Age: The Veilguard team members being reassigned to other EA projects, while others faced layoffs. EA reported that Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged 1.5 million players in its recent financial quarter, a figure that was nearly 50% below the company's projections.
IGN has documented various development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of several project leads at different stages. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered it a miracle that the game was released as a complete product, especially after EA initially pushed for a live-service model before reversing course.
Wilson suggested that BioWare's role-playing games need to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to meet EA's success benchmarks. He emphasized that to appeal beyond the core audience, games must align with the evolving demands of players who seek more interactive and engaging experiences.
Despite positive reviews and a high-quality launch, Wilson noted that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not capture a wide enough market in the competitive gaming industry. Many interpreted his comments to mean that the inclusion of shared-world features and deeper engagement could have boosted sales. However, IGN reported that a development reboot, supported by EA, transformed Dragon Age from a multiplayer game framework to a full single-player RPG.
Former BioWare staff have taken to social media to voice their opinions. David Gaider, who created the Dragon Age setting and served as its narrative lead before leaving BioWare in 2016, criticized EA's takeaway from The Veilguard's performance. Gaider, now at Summerfall Studios, argued that suggesting the game should have been a live service is shortsighted and self-serving. He advised EA to focus on what Dragon Age did best at its peak, drawing inspiration from the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, which, despite having multiplayer co-op, remains primarily a single-player experience.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and now at Yellow Brick Games, echoed Gaider's sentiments. Laidlaw stated he would quit if forced to convert a beloved single-player game into a purely multiplayer one, emphasizing the importance of preserving the core elements that fans love.
The current situation suggests that Dragon Age may be discontinued, with BioWare now fully committed to Mass Effect 5, led by series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield discussed the restructuring, which involved reducing BioWare's staff from 200 to less than 100, highlighting the need to reallocate resources to high-potential opportunities in response to the evolving industry landscape.
