EA CEO: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Misses Broad Appeal, Gamers Crave Shared-World Features

EA CEO Andrew Wilson has recently addressed the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, stating that the game failed to "resonate with a broad enough audience." This comment came after EA announced that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had only engaged 1.5 million players in its recent financial quarter, a number significantly lower than the company's expectations by nearly 50%.

In response to the game's disappointing performance, EA restructured Dragon Age developer BioWare to focus solely on Mass Effect 5. This restructuring meant that some team members who worked on The Veilguard were reassigned to other projects within EA studios. This move followed a series of development challenges faced by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, as reported by IGN, which included layoffs and the departure of several project leads at various stages. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered it a miracle that Dragon Age: The Veilguard was released as a complete game, especially after EA's fluctuating demands regarding the inclusion of live-service elements.

During an investor-focused financial call, Wilson elaborated on the need for role-playing games to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to appeal to a wider audience. He suggested that the lack of these elements in Dragon Age: The Veilguard might have contributed to its failure to attract a broader player base. However, this stance seems at odds with EA's previous decision to support BioWare's shift from a multiplayer framework to a full-blown single-player RPG.

Fans have expressed concerns that EA may be drawing the wrong conclusions from Dragon Age: The Veilguard's performance, especially given the recent success of single-player RPGs like Larian's Baldur's Gate 3. With Dragon Age seemingly on hold indefinitely, attention now turns to the future of Mass Effect 5.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield discussed the company's strategic decision to focus BioWare's efforts on Mass Effect 5, which has reportedly led to a reduction of the studio's workforce from 200 to less than 100 people. Canfield highlighted the evolving industry landscape and the need to reallocate resources towards projects with the highest potential.

It's important to note that single-player games constitute a small fraction of EA's revenue, with live service models generating 74% of the company's income over the last year. Titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims contribute significantly to this figure. Upcoming projects like Skate and the next Battlefield are also expected to follow the live service model, indicating EA's continued commitment to this approach.