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, a statement following EA's restructuring of BioWare to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring involved staff transfers and layoffs, impacting those who worked on The Veilguard. EA reported only 1.5 million players engaged with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, significantly below projections.
The game's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel, has been well-documented. Reports suggest that a late pivot from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player experience, mandated by EA, contributed to the challenges. Wilson, however, indicated that future BioWare RPGs require shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside strong narratives to achieve broader appeal. He stated that while The Veilguard launched with high quality and positive reviews, it lacked the reach needed in a competitive market.
This sparked reactions from former BioWare employees. David Gaider, former narrative lead on Dragon Age, criticized EA's conclusion that the game's failure stemmed from a lack of live-service elements, suggesting this was a short-sighted and self-serving assessment. He advocated for EA to learn from Baldur's Gate 3's success, focusing on the core strengths of the Dragon Age franchise that previously drove strong sales.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed his hypothetical resignation if pressured to transform a beloved single-player IP into a purely multiplayer experience. He highlighted the potential folly of such a drastic change to the core game's identity.
The outcome appears to be the shelving of the Dragon Age franchise for now, with BioWare fully committed to Mass Effect 5 under the leadership of established series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield acknowledged the evolving industry landscape and the financial underperformance of The Veilguard, emphasizing the need to reallocate resources to maximize potential returns. This reallocation has reportedly resulted in a significant reduction of BioWare's workforce.
