EA CEO Says Dragon Age: The Veilguard Failed to 'Resonate With a Broad Audience,' Gamers Increasingly Want 'Shared-World Features'

EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a wider audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw personnel shifts from the Dragon Age team to other EA projects.

EA's financial report revealed that Dragon Age: The Veilguard, despite a reported 1.5 million players, significantly missed projected engagement numbers, falling nearly 50% short. IGN previously documented the game's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff 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 RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement," alongside strong narratives, to broaden their appeal. He praised the game's quality and critical reception but acknowledged its limited audience reach in a competitive market. This statement is perplexing given EA's prior mandate for BioWare to pivot Dragon Age from a multiplayer structure to a single-player RPG, as reported by IGN.

Fan reaction suggests EA may have drawn incorrect conclusions from The Veilguard's performance, citing the success of recent single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3. The future of Dragon Age remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield linked BioWare's restructuring (reducing its size from approximately 200 to under 100 employees) to a shift in industry priorities, emphasizing the need to allocate resources to high-potential projects. He highlighted the changing industry landscape and the financial performance of The Veilguard as justification.

It's crucial to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue. Live service games, generating 74% of revenue in the past year, are the company's primary income source, driven largely by Ultimate Team, but also including titles like Apex Legends and The Sims. Future EA titles, such as the upcoming Skate and the next Battlefield, are also expected to incorporate live-service elements.