EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw some Veilguard developers reassigned to other EA projects. This followed EA's announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, despite engaging 1.5 million players—significantly below projections—had underperformed expectations. 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 miracle after EA's initial push for live-service elements was reversed.
During an investor call, Wilson suggested future RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to expand beyond the core audience. He praised the game's quality and reviews but acknowledged its limited market reach. This statement, however, seems at odds with EA's earlier decision to steer BioWare away from a live-service model for Dragon Age. The significant success of recent single-player RPGs like Larian's Baldur's Gate 3 further fuels fan criticism of EA's perceived misinterpretation of The Veilguard's failure. The future of the Dragon Age franchise appears uncertain.
EA CFO Stuart Canfield discussed the BioWare restructuring, noting the shift in focus to Mass Effect 5 and the resulting reduction in studio size. He highlighted the evolving industry landscape and the strategic reallocation of resources to maximize potential. It's important to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue, which is heavily reliant (74% in the past year) on live-service titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims. Upcoming live-service games like Skate and the next Battlefield further solidify EA's commitment to this model.
