Former BioWare developers have shared their insights on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the recent comments made by 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," a statement that came after EA restructured BioWare to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring led to some staff being reassigned to other EA projects, while others faced layoffs. The decision followed EA's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had underperformed, engaging only 1.5 million players in the recent financial quarter, a figure nearly 50% lower than expected.
IGN has documented several development challenges for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs, the departure of key project leads, and a significant shift in game design. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff viewed the game's completion as a "miracle" given EA's initial push for a live-service model, which was later abandoned. Despite this, Wilson emphasized that BioWare's RPGs need "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to meet EA's success criteria.
Wilson's comments suggested that Dragon Age: The Veilguard could have reached a wider audience if it had incorporated these elements. However, IGN reported that the game underwent a development reboot, shifting from a multiplayer framework to a full single-player RPG. In response, former BioWare staff, including David Gaider and Mike Laidlaw, have voiced their opinions on social media.
David Gaider, who created the Dragon Age setting and served as its narrative lead before leaving BioWare in 2016, criticized EA's takeaway from The Veilguard's performance. He argued that suggesting the game should have been a live-service title was "short-sighted and self-serving." Gaider advised EA to focus on what made Dragon Age successful at its peak and to follow the example set by Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian, which emphasized a strong single-player experience despite offering multiplayer co-op.
Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and now chief creative officer at Yellow Brick Games, expressed strong opposition to turning a beloved single-player game into a purely multiplayer experience. He stated that he would quit if faced with such a demand, especially if it fundamentally changed the game's core appeal.
The fallout from these developments has led to Dragon Age being sidelined, with BioWare now fully dedicated to Mass Effect 5 under the leadership of series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield highlighted the industry's shift away from traditional blockbuster storytelling and emphasized the importance of reallocating resources to high-potential opportunities. This shift has resulted in BioWare being reduced from a 200-person studio to less than 100 people.
