Dragon Age: EA CEO Claims The Veilguard Was a High-Quality Game Hampered by Absence of Shared World Features

Challenges for Dragon Age: The Veilguard Amidst EA’s Sales Strategy Shift

Despite receiving commendations from critics, including my own, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has not met the anticipated sales figures set by its publisher, Electronic Arts (EA). This shortfall has triggered notable job reductions at BioWare, which is reported to now operate with fewer than 100 employees. Such a significant reduction raises concerns about the studio’s capability to handle its upcoming projects, particularly the highly anticipated Mass Effect title.

EA’s Insights on Retail Performance

During the third-quarter earnings call for 2025, EA’s CEO Andrew Wilson addressed the lackluster performance of the game’s launch. He acknowledged that, while the game was critically praised for its quality, it struggled to engage a wider player base. Wilson noted that contemporary gamers increasingly look for shared world features and deeper interactive experiences in their gameplay.

EA’s Strategic Objectives in Game Development

Wilson elaborated on EA’s framework for blockbuster storytelling, which focuses on three main objectives:

Create authentic story experiences aimed at the core audience.
Innovate with groundbreaking features that push the envelope of gaming.
Ensure high-quality launches for both PC and console platforms.

To achieve success beyond their traditional audience, EA recognizes the need to adapt to shifting player preferences, which now demand cooperative experiences alongside engaging narratives. Despite its strong critical reception and quality launch, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has not sufficiently reached this broader market within an increasingly competitive landscape.

Implications for the Future of Single-Player RPGs

Later in the call, Stuart Canfield, EA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, remarked on the grim implications of the game’s performance. He mentioned that it reflects the challenging dynamics currently affecting the single-player RPG sector. Traditionally, blockbuster narratives have been a key method for introducing popular intellectual properties to new audiences. Canfield’s comments signal a potential shift in EA’s strategy toward reallocating resources away from single-player narratives, raising concerns among fans of the genre.

While this reflects a worrying trend toward an emphasis on live service models—having previously yielded mediocre results with games like Anthem—there remains a silver lining. EA currently has at least three single-player projects in development: the highly anticipated Iron Man game, a Black Panther title, and the concluding chapter of the Star Wars Jedi series.

The shifting priorities and strategies of EA point to an evolution in gaming that could redefine how stories are told and experienced in single-player formats. Fans will have to stay tuned to see how these developments unfold in the coming years.

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