Dragon Age: Veilguard Disappoints, Gamers Seek Shared Worlds

EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a sufficiently broad audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw personnel transfers from the Dragon Age team to other EA studios.

This followed EA's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, despite a reported 1.5 million players during the recent financial quarter, significantly missed projected engagement figures (approximately a 50% shortfall). IGN previously documented development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff viewed the game's completion as a remarkable feat given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement," alongside strong narratives, to broaden appeal beyond the core fanbase. He acknowledged the game's high-quality launch and positive reviews but emphasized its limited market reach.

This perspective clashes with EA's earlier decision to significantly restructure the Dragon Age development, pivoting from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG. The success of recent single-player titles like Baldur's Gate 3 contrasts sharply with EA's apparent takeaway from The Veilguard's performance. Many fans believe EA drew the wrong conclusions. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield linked BioWare's restructuring (reducing its size from approximately 200 to less than 100 employees) to the focus on Mass Effect 5, highlighting the evolving industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects. He noted that while blockbuster storytelling has traditionally been key, the financial results underscore the importance of adapting to current market demands.

It's crucial to remember that single-player games represent a small fraction of EA's revenue. Live service games (contributing 74% of revenue in the past year), particularly Ultimate Team, are the primary drivers of profit, with contributions also coming from titles like Apex Legends and The Sims. Future projects like the upcoming Skate and the next Battlefield are also planned as live-service games.