Former BioWare developers have shared their perspectives on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the recent statements from EA CEO Andrew Wilson regarding its underperformance. During a financial call, Wilson highlighted that Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not "resonate with a broad enough audience." This followed EA's decision to restructure BioWare, shifting its focus solely to Mass Effect 5. As a result, some developers from The Veilguard were reassigned to other EA projects, while others faced layoffs.
EA reported that Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter, a figure that fell short of the company's expectations by nearly 50%. The development of The Veilguard was fraught with challenges, including staff layoffs and the exit of multiple project leads, as detailed by IGN and Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier. Schreier noted that BioWare staff considered it a "miracle" that the game was completed after EA's fluctuating demands for a live-service model.
Wilson emphasized the need for BioWare's RPGs to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to meet EA's success metrics. He acknowledged the game's high-quality launch and positive reviews but pointed out its failure to capture a wider audience in the competitive market. This led many to speculate that The Veilguard might have performed better with the inclusion of shared-world elements. However, IGN reported that EA's development reboot shifted The Veilguard from a planned multiplayer format to a single-player RPG.
In response, former BioWare staff, including David Gaider, who created the Dragon Age setting and served as its narrative lead before departing in 2016, have taken to social media to express their views. Gaider, now at Summerfall Studios, criticized EA's apparent takeaway that The Veilguard needed to be a live-service game, calling it "short-sighted and self-serving." He suggested that EA should emulate the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian by focusing on what made Dragon Age successful at its peak, emphasizing the strong audience support for the franchise.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and now at Yellow Brick Games, also weighed in, stating he would resign if pressured to transform a beloved single-player game into a multiplayer-focused one. He humorously questioned the logic behind such a demand, especially after it had been tried and failed before.
The current situation suggests that the Dragon Age series may be on hold, with BioWare now concentrating on Mass Effect 5, led by series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield discussed the company's strategic shift, underscoring the industry's move towards reallocating resources to high-potential projects. This restructuring has significantly reduced BioWare's workforce, highlighting the challenges and changing dynamics within the gaming industry.
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