Recent statements from EA's CEO Andrew Wilson and former BioWare developers have sparked discussions about the performance of *Dragon Age: The Veilguard*. Wilson noted that the game failed to "resonate with a broad enough audience," a sentiment that followed EA's decision to restructure BioWare, shifting its focus entirely to *Mass Effect 5*. This restructuring came after *The Veilguard* reportedly engaged only 1.5 million players, falling short of EA's expectations by nearly 50%.

IGN has documented several development challenges faced by *The Veilguard*, including layoffs, the departure of key project leads, and a significant pivot from a planned multiplayer format to a single-player RPG. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that BioWare staff considered it a "miracle" that the game was completed, especially after EA initially pushed for a live-service model before reversing course.

Wilson emphasized the need for BioWare's games to incorporate "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside high-quality narratives to meet EA's success benchmarks. He suggested that these elements could have helped *The Veilguard* appeal to a wider audience in the competitive gaming market.

However, former BioWare developers, including David Gaider and Mike Laidlaw, have expressed their concerns over EA's interpretation of *The Veilguard*'s performance. Gaider, who played a pivotal role in creating the *Dragon Age* setting, criticized EA's focus on live-service models, suggesting that the company should instead emulate the success of *Baldur's Gate 3* by doubling down on what made *Dragon Age* popular at its peak. He stressed the importance of staying true to the beloved aspects of the franchise that fans cherish.

Mike Laidlaw went further, stating that he would resign if forced to transform a successful single-player game into a purely multiplayer experience. His comments underscored the tension between maintaining the core identity of a game and the pressures to adapt to broader market trends.

In light of these developments, BioWare is now concentrating solely on *Mass Effect 5*, with the studio being significantly downsized from 200 to less than 100 employees. EA CFO Stuart Canfield justified the restructuring by highlighting the evolving nature of the gaming industry and the need to allocate resources to high-potential opportunities.

The future of *Dragon Age* remains uncertain, but the insights from former developers and EA's strategic shifts provide a clear picture of the challenges and decisions shaping the industry today.