Dragon Age Co-Creator Offers EA Some Advice: Follow Baldur’s Gate 3 Developer Larian’s Lead

Former BioWare developers have criticized EA's assessment of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's underperformance and the subsequent restructuring of BioWare. EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the game's failure to a lack of broad appeal, specifically citing the absence of "shared-world features and deeper engagement." This statement, coupled with BioWare's restructuring to focus solely on Mass Effect 5, has led to layoffs and the transfer of staff to other EA projects.

The game's development was reportedly plagued by challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel, culminating in a shift from a planned multiplayer experience to a single-player RPG. Wilson's comments implied that a multiplayer focus would have improved sales, a notion contradicted by former BioWare employees.

David Gaider, former narrative lead on Dragon Age, argued that EA's takeaway – that the game should have been live-service – is shortsighted. He suggested EA should emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, a predominantly single-player RPG with optional multiplayer, by focusing on Dragon Age's core strengths.

Mike Laidlaw, another former Dragon Age creative director, expressed his strong disapproval of forcing a single-player IP into a purely multiplayer model, stating he would likely resign if faced with such a demand.

The situation suggests the future of the Dragon Age franchise is uncertain, with BioWare now fully committed to Mass Effect 5. EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, acknowledged the changing industry landscape and justified the resource reallocation to prioritize "significant and highest potential opportunities," effectively signaling a shift away from the Dragon Age franchise's traditional blockbuster storytelling approach.