EA Advised to Follow Larian's Lead by Dragon Age Co-Creator

Former BioWare developers have recently shared their perspectives on the performance and future of *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* following comments from EA CEO Andrew Wilson about the game's failure to "resonate with a broad enough audience." During a financial call, Wilson noted that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* did not meet EA's expectations, a sentiment echoed by the company's announcement that the game engaged only 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter, a significant drop from projected figures.

In response to the underperformance, EA restructured BioWare, shifting its focus exclusively to *Mass Effect 5*. This restructuring led to layoffs and the reassignment of some *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* team members to other EA projects. The development of *The Veilguard* faced numerous challenges, including multiple layoffs, the departure of several project leads, and a forced shift towards a live-service model before reverting to a single-player RPG format, as reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier.

Wilson emphasized the need for BioWare's RPGs to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to achieve greater success. He suggested that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*'s failure to include these elements may have contributed to its lack of broad appeal in the competitive gaming market.

However, former BioWare staff have expressed skepticism about EA's interpretation of the game's performance. David Gaider, who helped create the *Dragon Age* setting and served as its narrative lead, criticized EA's focus on live-service models as a solution. Gaider, now at Summerfall Studios, argued that EA should instead focus on what made *Dragon Age* successful in the past, drawing inspiration from the success of *Baldur's Gate 3*, which, despite offering multiplayer co-op, remains primarily a single-player experience.

Similarly, Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on *Dragon Age* and now at Yellow Brick Games, expressed strong opposition to transforming a beloved single-player franchise into a multiplayer game. He suggested that such a fundamental change would be detrimental to the core appeal of the series and could lead to his resignation if faced with such a demand.

The restructuring at BioWare has resulted in a significant reduction in staff, with the studio reportedly shrinking from 200 to less than 100 employees. EA CFO Stuart Canfield highlighted the shift as a strategic move to focus on high-potential opportunities like *Mass Effect 5*, which is being led by series veterans. Canfield's comments underscore the evolving nature of the gaming industry and the necessity of adapting to new market demands.

The future of *Dragon Age* now appears uncertain, with BioWare's full attention turning to *Mass Effect 5*. This shift marks a significant change in direction for the studio, reflecting broader industry trends towards more engaging and potentially lucrative game formats.