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

Former BioWare developers have criticized EA's assessment of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's underperformance and subsequent restructuring of BioWare. EA CEO Andrew Wilson attributed the game's failure to a lack of broad appeal, citing a need for "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to attract a wider audience. This suggests EA believes incorporating multiplayer elements would have boosted sales.

However, this interpretation clashes with the game's development history. As previously reported, The Veilguard underwent a significant development reboot, shifting from a planned multiplayer game to a single-player RPG at EA's behest. This contradicts Wilson's suggestion that a lack of multiplayer features contributed to the game's poor performance.

Former BioWare narrative lead David Gaider, now at Summerfall Studios, criticized EA's conclusion, arguing that focusing on live-service elements as the primary solution is short-sighted. He suggested EA should instead emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, which, while featuring co-op, prioritizes a strong single-player experience. He believes EA should double down on what made Dragon Age successful in the past.

Mike Laidlaw, former creative director on Dragon Age and now at Yellow Brick Games, expressed even stronger dissent, stating he would resign if pressured to fundamentally alter a beloved single-player IP into a purely multiplayer title. He highlighted the inherent contradiction in demanding such a drastic change to a franchise's core identity.

The restructuring of BioWare, resulting in significant layoffs and a focus solely on Mass Effect 5, effectively signals the end of the Dragon Age franchise as it currently stands. EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, framed the decision as a reallocation of resources towards projects with higher potential, reflecting the changing industry landscape. The Veilguard's financial performance underscores the evolving demands of the gaming market and EA's strategic shift away from large-scale single-player RPGs.