EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Following the game's disappointing sales, which fell nearly 50% short of projections, EA restructured BioWare, the game's developer, to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring involved shifting some Veilguard team members to other EA projects.
IGN previously documented several development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of key project leads. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier cited BioWare staff who described the game's completion as a miracle, given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.
In a recent investor call, Wilson suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to broaden their appeal. He acknowledged the game's positive critical reception and strong initial player engagement (1.5 million players), but emphasized its insufficient reach within a competitive market.
This statement suggests that Wilson believes incorporating shared-world features and increased player engagement could have improved The Veilguard's sales. However, this perspective contrasts with EA's earlier decision to significantly overhaul the game's development, shifting it from a planned multiplayer experience to a single-player RPG. This has led to criticism from fans who argue EA drew the wrong conclusions from the game's performance, citing the success of recent single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.
EA CFO Stuart Canfield further elaborated on the BioWare restructuring, noting the reduction of the studio's size from approximately 200 to less than 100 employees. He highlighted the shift in the industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects. This reallocation of resources underscores EA's reliance on live-service games, which currently contribute 74% of their revenue, with titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims leading the charge. Future titles like the next Battlefield and the upcoming Skate will also likely incorporate live-service elements.
