Former BioWare developers have shared their insights on *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* and the recent comments from EA CEO Andrew Wilson regarding its perceived failure. During a financial call, Wilson noted that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* did not "resonate with a broad enough audience." This statement came after EA restructured BioWare to solely focus on *Mass Effect 5*, resulting in staff reallocations and layoffs for those involved with *The Veilguard*.
EA announced that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* attracted 1.5 million players in its recent financial quarter, a figure significantly lower than the company's expectations. Reports from IGN detailed the game's development struggles, including layoffs, the departure of key project leads, and a mid-development shift from a live-service model to a single-player RPG, as noted by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier. Despite these challenges, Wilson emphasized that BioWare's future titles need "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside high-quality narratives to meet EA's success benchmarks.
Wilson's comments suggest that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* might have performed better with these elements. However, the game's development pivot from a multiplayer to a single-player format, driven by EA's directives, indicates a complex journey. On social media, former BioWare staff, including David Gaider and Mike Laidlaw, have voiced their opinions on EA's approach.
David Gaider, the creator of the *Dragon Age* setting and former narrative lead, criticized EA for potentially misinterpreting the lessons from *The Veilguard*. He suggested that EA's focus on live-service models may be shortsighted and urged them to emulate the success of *Baldur’s Gate 3* by emphasizing what *Dragon Age* does best. Gaider emphasized the enduring love for the franchise and advised EA to double down on the elements that historically resonated with fans.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on *Dragon Age* and current chief creative officer at Yellow Brick Games, expressed strong reservations about transforming a beloved single-player IP into a purely multiplayer game. He humorously suggested he would quit such a job, especially if it involved fundamentally changing the game's core appeal.
Following these developments, *Dragon Age* appears to be on hold, with BioWare now fully focused on *Mass Effect 5*. The studio, which has been reduced from 200 to fewer than 100 staff members, is led by series veterans including Mike Gamble, Preston Watamaniuk, Derek Watts, and Parrish Ley. EA CFO Stuart Canfield highlighted the industry's shift from traditional storytelling to more interactive and engaging experiences, underscoring the strategic reallocation of resources to maximize potential opportunities.
