Dragon Age Co-Creator Offers EA Some Advice: Follow Baldur’s Gate 3 Developer Larian’s Lead
Former BioWare developers have weighed in on the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA CEO Andrew Wilson's comments regarding its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Wilson, during an earnings call, attributed the game's underperformance to its failure to engage a wider player base. This announcement followed EA's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, resulting in staff reassignments and layoffs within the Dragon Age team. EA reported that The Veilguard engaged only 1.5 million players, significantly below projections.
IGN previously documented The Veilguard's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier reported that BioWare staff considered the game's completion a miracle given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed. Wilson suggested that BioWare's RPGs need shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives to achieve broader success. He acknowledged the game's positive critical reception but highlighted its failure to reach a wider audience in a competitive market. Many interpreted this as suggesting that shared-world features and increased engagement would have boosted sales. However, as reported by IGN, a development reboot shifted the game from a multiplayer concept to a single-player RPG.
Former BioWare employees took to social media to share their perspectives. 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 a more short-sighted and self-serving analysis. He argued that EA should instead learn from the success of Baldur's Gate 3, emphasizing the continued demand for high-quality single-player RPG experiences. He advised EA to double down on what made Dragon Age successful in the past.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age, expressed that he would have resigned if pressured to transform a successful single-player IP into a purely multiplayer game, emphasizing the potential damage to the core game's identity.
The events suggest a bleak future for the Dragon Age franchise, with BioWare fully committed to Mass Effect 5 under the leadership of veteran developers. EA CFO Stuart Canfield explained the restructuring, citing the shifting industry landscape and the need to reallocate resources towards high-potential opportunities, acknowledging the shift away from solely blockbuster storytelling.
