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

Author:Kristen Update:Feb 28,2025

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, specifically citing a need for "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to attract a wider audience. This statement suggests that EA believes adding multiplayer elements would have boosted sales.

However, this interpretation contradicts 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 after EA's initial direction. This change, according to BioWare staff, was a significant challenge.

Several former BioWare employees voiced their opinions on social media. David Gaider, former narrative lead on Dragon Age, argued that EA's conclusion is short-sighted and self-serving, suggesting that focusing on live-service elements isn't the primary lesson to be learned. He advocated for EA to emulate Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, which, while featuring co-op, remains primarily a single-player experience, emphasizing the core strengths of the Dragon Age franchise.

Mike Laidlaw, another former Dragon Age creative director, expressed strong disagreement with the idea of fundamentally altering the single-player nature of the franchise to incorporate multiplayer elements, stating he would likely resign if faced with such a mandate.

The aftermath of The Veilguard's underperformance has resulted in BioWare's restructuring, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5. This involved significant layoffs, reducing the studio's size considerably. EA's CFO, Stuart Canfield, acknowledged the changing industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects, indirectly justifying the restructuring and the apparent abandonment of the Dragon Age franchise. The future of Dragon Age currently remains uncertain.