In a recent financial analysis, EA CEO Andrew Wilson expressed disappointment over the commercial performance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, stating it did not "resonate with a broad enough audience." This statement came after EA reported that the game had only managed to engage 1.5 million players in its recent quarter, a figure that fell short of the company's expectations by nearly 50%.
In response to the underwhelming performance, EA took decisive action last week by restructuring BioWare, the developer behind Dragon Age, to solely focus on the upcoming Mass Effect 5. This restructuring led to the reassignment of some staff members who had worked on The Veilguard to other projects within EA studios.
The development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard was fraught with challenges, as documented by IGN. These included layoffs, the departure of several key project leads, and significant shifts in the game's direction. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier highlighted the internal sentiment at BioWare, noting that it was seen as a "miracle" that the game was completed at all, given EA's initial push towards a live-service model and subsequent reversal.
During a financial call aimed at investors, Wilson emphasized the need for EA's role-playing games to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside compelling narratives to meet the evolving demands of today's gamers. He suggested that these elements might have helped Dragon Age: The Veilguard appeal to a wider audience in the highly competitive gaming market.
However, this stance raises questions, especially when considering EA's earlier decision to pivot Dragon Age from a multiplayer framework with live-service elements to a full-fledged single-player RPG. Fans and industry observers have criticized EA for potentially drawing the wrong conclusions from The Veilguard's performance, especially given the recent success of other single-player RPGs like Larian's Baldur's Gate 3.
With Dragon Age seemingly put on hold indefinitely, attention now turns to Mass Effect 5. EA CFO Stuart Canfield addressed the company's decision to streamline BioWare's operations, which involved reducing the studio's size from 200 to less than 100 employees. Canfield emphasized the need to focus on projects with the highest potential, reflecting the shifting dynamics of the gaming industry where blockbuster storytelling alone is no longer sufficient.
It's important to note that single-player games contribute only a small fraction of EA's revenue, with live-service games dominating the company's financials. EA's successful live-service titles, such as Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims, along with upcoming projects like Skate and the next Battlefield, underscore the company's strategic direction towards live-service models.
