Dragon Age: Veilguard's Audience Impact, Game Trends Shift

EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a sufficiently broad audience. This follows last week's restructuring of BioWare, the developer, to focus solely on Mass Effect 5, resulting in some Veilguard staff being reassigned within EA.

EA's financial report revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, despite a reported 1.5 million players, significantly missed projected engagement figures—a shortfall of almost 50%. IGN previously documented the game's development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare employees considered the game's completion a remarkable feat given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested that future role-playing games require "shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives" to expand beyond their core fanbase. He acknowledged the game's positive critical reception and player reviews but emphasized its limited market reach. This statement implies that incorporating these features might have improved sales, a perspective complicated by EA's prior decision to significantly overhaul the Dragon Age project, shifting it from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG.

This decision has drawn criticism from fans, who highlight the recent success of single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield further elaborated on the BioWare restructuring, noting the reduction in staff from approximately 200 to under 100, focusing resources on Mass Effect 5. He highlighted the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects.

It's crucial to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue. Live service games, comprising 74% of revenue in the past year, are the company's primary revenue driver, with titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims contributing significantly. Future EA projects, including Skate and the next Battlefield, are also expected to follow this live-service model.