EA CEO Says Dragon Age: The Veilguard Failed to 'Resonate With a Broad Audience,' Gamers Increasingly Want 'Shared-World Features'

EA's Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a wider audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw personnel shifts following the game's disappointing sales figures. EA reported only 1.5 million players engaged with The Veilguard, significantly below projections.

IGN previously documented The Veilguard's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that BioWare staff considered the game's completion a miracle given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested future RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement," alongside strong narratives, to broaden appeal. He acknowledged The Veilguard's positive critical reception but emphasized its limited audience reach in a competitive market. This statement is perplexing given EA's own decision to steer BioWare away from a live-service model for The Veilguard. The successful launch of single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 further challenges Wilson's assertion.

Many fans believe EA drew the wrong conclusions, highlighting the success of recent single-player titles. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield linked BioWare's restructuring to the evolving gaming landscape, emphasizing the need to prioritize high-potential projects. The downsizing of BioWare, from approximately 200 to under 100 employees, reflects this strategy. Canfield highlighted the shift in industry trends, noting that while blockbuster storytelling remains crucial, live service games currently dominate EA's revenue (74% in the past year), driven largely by Ultimate Team and titles like Apex Legends and The Sims. Upcoming titles like Skate and the next Battlefield will also follow this live-service model.