Dragon Age: The Veilguard, released in late October, struggled to meet sales expectations, achieving only 1.5 million players worldwide. This disappointing performance has resulted in layoffs at BioWare and a shift in focus to Mass Effect 5. EA’s CEO noted that the game failed to engage a large audience and emphasized the need for deeper engagement in future titles. Former BioWare staff argue that the reasons for the failure go beyond the live-service model, suggesting that quality content remains paramount.
The Return of Dragon Age: The Veilguard
In late October of the previous year, the iconic Dragon Age franchise, cherished by gamers since its inception with Inquisition, made a comeback with a new installment: The Veilguard. With lofty ambitions from EA and aspirations for soaring sales, the release ultimately fell flat, leaving BioWare and EA facing significant criticism, a divide among fans, and disappointing sales figures.
EA’s Struggles and BioWare’s Restructuring
The game struggled to meet expectations, with EA admitting that it only achieved half of its projected sales targets, reaching merely 1.5 million players globally. This disappointing outcome has triggered a wave of layoffs at BioWare, as the studio shifts its focus primarily to the development of Mass Effect 5.
It’s crucial to derive the right insights from this setback. According to one of the original creators of Dragon Age, the outlook may not be as bright as hoped…
During a recent financial call, EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson remarked that Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to “resonate with a sufficiently large audience.” He emphasized that BioWare’s role-playing games must incorporate shared world mechanics and foster deeper engagement, alongside high-quality storytelling, to meet EA’s ambitious criteria.
Initially envisioned as a live-service title, aimed at providing an online, multiplayer experience with ongoing updates, The Veilguard eventually transformed into a single-player adventure, reminiscent of its predecessors. This significant shift in development posed numerous challenges and led some to argue that the actual release was almost miraculous.
While Wilson posits that a live-service approach might have yielded better results, several former BioWare staff members are concerned that EA is misinterpreting the reasons behind this misstep.
David Gaider, the narrative lead for Dragon Age prior to his departure from BioWare in 2016, took to social media to advocate for the franchise. He believes EA is not drawing the right conclusions from the recent events and suggests looking to Larian Studios, which found tremendous success with Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2023.
Gaider insists that the true reasons for The Veilguard’s failure extend beyond the live-service debate. He asserts that the Dragon Age community remains enthusiastic if presented with a game that meets the high standards associated with the franchise.
His example is compelling: Baldur’s Gate 3 achieved remarkable acclaim, even winning Game of the Year for 2023, despite not being a live-service game and incorporating elements that some might label as “woke.” This success underscores that quality content can resonate with audiences regardless of the format.
To move forward, EA must maintain a level-headed approach and identify the genuine causes behind this recent failure to pave the way for future projects, particularly Mass Effect 5.
Last year marked the debut of The Veilguard, the latest chapter in the Dragon Age saga. Despite offering three acts filled with excitement and narrative depth, the production from EA appears to have missed the mark in achieving the anticipated success.
If you find Dragon Age: The Veilguard lacking, you may be disheartened to learn that EA has deemed the title unprofitable, leading to significant cutbacks for the RPG franchise.