EA CEO: Dragon Age Fails, Gamers Crave Shared Worlds

EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to resonate with a broad audience. Following the game's disappointing sales, which fell nearly 50% short of projections (reaching only 1.5 million players), EA restructured BioWare, the game's developer, to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring involved transferring some Veilguard staff to other EA studios.

IGN previously documented various development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including layoffs and the departure of several key personnel. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered the game's completion a remarkable feat, given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

During an investor call, Wilson suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to broaden their appeal. While acknowledging the game's positive critical reception and strong reviews from players, he emphasized its failure to attract a wider audience in a highly competitive market. This statement implies that the inclusion of shared-world features and increased player engagement could have improved sales. However, this perspective contrasts with EA's earlier decision to significantly restructure the Dragon Age development, pivoting from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG.

This decision, and the game's underperformance, have sparked criticism from fans who believe EA drew the wrong conclusions. The recent success of single-player RPGs, such as Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, further fuels this critique. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield addressed the BioWare restructuring, noting the reduction in staff from approximately 200 to under 100, and the shift in focus to Mass Effect 5. He highlighted the changing industry landscape and the importance of reallocating resources towards high-potential projects. It's crucial to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue, which heavily relies (74% in the past year) on live-service titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims, with future projects like Skate and the next Battlefield also planned as live-service games.