EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Following the game's disappointing sales, which fell nearly 50% short of projections, EA restructured BioWare, the game's developer, to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring involved transferring some Veilguard staff to other EA studios.
IGN previously reported on Dragon Age: The Veilguard's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier cited BioWare staff who described the game's completion as a miracle, given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.
During an investor call, Wilson suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to broaden their appeal. He acknowledged the game's positive critical reception but emphasized its failure to reach a wider audience in a competitive market. This statement implies that the addition of shared-world features and increased engagement could have improved sales, a perspective seemingly at odds with EA's earlier decision to pivot Dragon Age away from a multiplayer model to a single-player experience.
This perspective has drawn criticism from fans, who point to the success of recent single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 as evidence that EA may have drawn the wrong conclusions. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.
EA CFO Stuart Canfield further explained the BioWare restructuring, noting the reduction of the studio's size from approximately 200 to under 100 employees. He highlighted the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential opportunities, emphasizing that the game's performance underscores the importance of this reallocation of resources.
It's crucial to note that single-player games contribute a small fraction to EA's overall revenue. The company's financial success heavily relies on live-service titles (74% of revenue in the past year), with significant contributions from Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, The Sims, and future projects like the upcoming Skate and the next Battlefield installment, all expected to incorporate live-service elements.
