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

Former BioWare developers have shared their perspectives on *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* and recent remarks from EA CEO Andrew Wilson regarding the game's perceived underperformance. During a financial call, Wilson noted that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* did not "resonate with a broad enough audience," suggesting that the game failed to meet the company's expectations for the long-awaited action RPG.

In response to the game's performance, EA restructured BioWare to focus exclusively on *Mass Effect 5*. This restructuring led to some developers being reassigned to other EA projects, while others faced layoffs. EA reported that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* engaged 1.5 million players in its recent financial quarter, a figure that fell nearly 50% short of the company's projections.

IGN has documented several development challenges faced by *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*, including layoffs, the departure of key project leads, and a significant shift in the game's direction. According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered it a miracle that the game was released at all, given EA's initial push for a live-service model and subsequent reversal.

Wilson emphasized the need for BioWare's role-playing games to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to achieve broader success. He acknowledged that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* had a high-quality launch and received positive reviews, but it did not capture a wide enough audience in the competitive gaming market.

Many interpreted Wilson's comments to suggest that *Dragon Age: The Veilguard* might have performed better with shared-world features and deeper engagement. However, IGN reported that the game underwent a development reboot, shifting from a multiplayer framework to a full single-player RPG experience.

Former BioWare staff, including David Gaider and Mike Laidlaw, have voiced their opinions on social media. Gaider, who created the *Dragon Age* setting and served as its narrative lead before leaving BioWare in 2016, criticized EA's takeaway that the game should have been a live service. He suggested that EA should focus on what made *Dragon Age* successful at its peak, drawing inspiration from the success of *Baldur's Gate 3* by Larian Studios.

Gaider advised EA to double down on the elements that fans loved most about *Dragon Age*, emphasizing that the audience is still eager for more of the same. Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on *Dragon Age* and now at Yellow Brick Games, expressed strong opposition to turning a beloved single-player game into a purely multiplayer experience, stating he would quit if faced with such a demand.

The restructuring of BioWare has shifted the studio's focus entirely to *Mass Effect 5*, led by series veterans. EA CFO Stuart Canfield highlighted the evolving industry landscape and the necessity of reallocating resources to high-potential opportunities, underscoring the decision to downsize BioWare from 200 to less than 100 employees.