Recent comments from EA's CEO Andrew Wilson about Dragon Age: The Veilguard have sparked reactions from former BioWare developers. In a financial call, Wilson stated that the game failed to "resonate with a broad enough audience," following EA's decision to restructure BioWare to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring involved moving some staff to other EA projects and laying off others, after The Veilguard underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players against EA's expectations of nearly double that number.
IGN has detailed the development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of several project leads. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, it was a miracle the game was released at all, given EA's initial push for a live-service model that was later abandoned in favor of a single-player RPG.
Wilson suggested that BioWare's role-playing games need "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to meet EA's success metrics. He noted that while The Veilguard was well-reviewed, it didn't capture a broad enough market. Many interpreted Wilson's comments as implying that incorporating shared-world features could have boosted sales. However, a development reboot shifted Dragon Age from a multiplayer framework to a full single-player experience.
Former BioWare staff have taken to social media to voice their opinions. David Gaider, the original setting creator and former narrative lead for Dragon Age, criticized EA's takeaway that the game should have been a live service. Gaider suggested that EA should instead focus on what made Dragon Age successful at its peak, drawing inspiration from the success of Baldur's Gate 3, which is primarily a single-player RPG despite including multiplayer co-op.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and current chief creative officer at Yellow Brick Games, went further, stating he would quit if forced to convert a beloved single-player IP into a purely multiplayer game. His comments underscored the frustration among developers over such demands.
With Dragon Age seemingly on hold and BioWare now concentrating on Mass Effect 5 under the guidance of series veterans, EA CFO Stuart Canfield emphasized the shifting industry landscape. He highlighted the need to reallocate resources towards high-potential opportunities, reflecting on the financial performance of The Veilguard.
